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Scientists are planning to drill 13,000ft into the heart of an active volcano in Italy in an attempt to protect the nearby city of Naples by gauging when it is likely to erupt.
But experts have warned that the project could trigger an explosion of red hot magma or even an earthquake.
The team of scientists wants to insert a borehole inside Campi Flegrei, a huge volcanic formation outside Naples, in the hope of gauging how active it is.
But there are fears that the experiment, which will tap into 500-600C hot magma, could lead to an eruption which would endanger the 1.5 million people who live in and around Naples.
Benedetto de Vivo, a professor of geochemistry at the University of Naples, said a similar drilling project in Iceland had to be stopped last year after magma was found at a much shallower depth than expected.
Originally posted by TheBloodRed
I have friends in Naples and I would be super upset if anything bad happened to them. Sure they didn't choose to live near an active volcano(military) but I would pissed if it erupted by human means instead of a natural occurrence!
Originally posted by lasertaglover
If it was already 'bad' once, drilling into a volcano in Iceland, what makes them think that this volcano drilling might be 'good' in Italy?
Originally posted by TrueAmerican
Hmm, so I wonder why they don't do this at Yellowstone too? :shk:
The magma rose about 20 feet up the drill hole before cooling into a glasslike substance. A section of the hole eventually collapsed, pinning the drill tip, which was abandoned along with the final 750 feet of pipe.
But doesn't name them. Sounds like typical Telegraph sensationalism.
But experts have warned that the project could trigger an explosion of red hot magma or even an earthquake.
Hitting magma so close to the surface could theoretically cause an explosion in the well or trigger small earthquakes, which could be dangerous near a big city.
By measuring how the temperature of the rocks increases with depth, researchers hope to locate the centre of the magma more precisely. Borehole fibre-optic sensors measuring seismic activity, temperature and ground deformation will be installed and connected to above-ground stations, to regularly monitor the caldera's activity.
Early next month, researchers will begin to sample rocks and install underground sensors inside Campi Flegrei, a giant volcanic formation in southern Italy. They hope to learn where the magma is stored and what signs might precede an eruption. Campi Flegrei last erupted in 1538, and the ground in the area has been swelling for the past 40 years, leading to fears of another eruption within decades.
Originally posted by Three_moons
I read through this whole thread and the article twice before I realized that they're drilling into a caldera volcano. I'm all for learning more about volcanoes but by drilling into a caldera seems rather, umm..., potentially not so smart.
Originally posted by Shadowfoot
Wow, sheesh is this part of the global [population reduction? Gulf of Mexico...western hemispheres Medeterranian, now the real mcCoy. I dont know I keep turning around to see if I am in some kind of bad B movie