A supervolcano in Naples, Italy, is causing concern among experts and residents. Campi Flegrei meaning “burning fields,” referring to the eruptive nature of the region has been subject to intense seismic activity since December 2022, with the possibility of a resurgence, according to the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).
Geologists seemingly unpretentious call the plain, which is considered a supervolcano because of its ability to produce enormous eruptions. In reality, it is a huge depression made up of craters and volcanic craters a depressed area formed by the collapse of a huge underground magma chamber, after gigantic eruptions in the past. The site also has geothermal phenomena such as fumaroles and hot springs, indicating intense magmatic activity. This area is a densely populated area with the municipalities of Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Possuoli, Quarto, Giugliano in Campania and Naples.
The warning is mainly due to medium magnitude earthquakes that have occurred in the region. In 2023 alone, more than 3,000 earthquakes were recorded in Campi Flegrei, including 1,100 in August alone.
The Italian protection agency considers the region a “red zone” due to the risk of an outbreak. Although they are miles apart, Campi Flegrei’s proximity to Italy’s most famous and worldfamous volcano, Vesuvius, which erupted in 79 BC. The greatest concern was the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum
What are the dangers?
The last “megaeruptions” in Campi Flegrei that could distort the climate of the entire planet occurred 40,000 and 15,000 years ago. These were the largest eruptions ever to occur in the Mediterranean and are known as Campania Ignimbrite and Neapolitan Yellow Tuff, respectively. Geologists have reconstructed the force of these events using deposits that are still visible today.
Today, such risks no longer exist, although supervolcanoes are giants and capable of massive eruptions, it is also very rare for an eruption of this magnitude to be observed again.
*Intern led by Pedro Grigori