Scientists locate potential magma source in Italian supervolcano

September 18, 2017

Scientists have found the first direct evidence of a so-called 'hot zone' feeding a supervolcano in southern Italy that experts say is nearing eruption conditions.

Campi Flegrei is a volcanic caldera to the west of Naples that last erupted centuries ago.

The area has been relatively quiet since the 1980s when the injection of either magma or fluids in the shallower structure of the volcano caused a series of small earthquakes.

Using seismological techniques, scientists have now pinpointed the location of the hot zone where hot materials rose to feed the caldera during this period.
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phys.org...

Campi Flegrei last erupted in 1538, and the problem is that it's seismic activity has been low since the 1980s, which means pressure has been building up. This low seismic activity also caused it's behaviour to change, and " everything becoming hotter due to fluids permeating the entire caldera," according to Dr De Siena.

Dr De Siena also stated that whatever produced the activity in the 1980s, seems to have migrated somewhere else, which could put this activity much nearer Naples, which is more densely populated.

What all of this means is that the volcano has become more dangerous, and all the signs say it is nearing eruption conditions.

originally posted by: ElectricUniverse

September 18, 2017

Scientists have found the first direct evidence of a so-called 'hot zone' feeding a supervolcano in southern Italy that experts say is nearing eruption conditions.

Campi Flegrei is a volcanic caldera to the west of Naples that last erupted centuries ago.

The area has been relatively quiet since the 1980s when the injection of either magma or fluids in the shallower structure of the volcano caused a series of small earthquakes.

Using seismological techniques, scientists have now pinpointed the location of the hot zone where hot materials rose to feed the caldera during this period.
...

phys.org...

Campi Flegrei last erupted in 1538, and the problem is that it's seismic activity has been low since the 1980s, which means pressure has been building up. This low seismic activity also caused it's behaviour to change, and " everything becoming hotter due to fluids permeating the entire caldera," according to Dr De Siena.

Dr De Siena also stated that whatever produced the activity in the 1980s, seems to have migrated somewhere else, which could put this activity much nearer Naples, which is more densely populated.

What all of this means is that the volcano has become more dangerous, and all the signs say it is nearing eruption conditions.

Italy can't catch a break.

Hav nt they had a lot of earthquakes lately ? I winse if that is a precursor to an eruption ....how big is this super volcano ?

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

I LOVE volcanoes.

Check out my Mt. Etna posts here for years.

Point?

I have to look this up but I'm almost 99.9% sure Dr De Siena was the guy that got in huge trouble because he predicted a huge eruption and the 'authorities' almost put him in jail (maybe they did ) for 'fear mongering'. Funny enough? He was right.

So I'll go check this out and get back to you.

In the mean time? I got to share this!


That's my BABY!

peace

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

Thanks for the thread!

I had just gotten a message from a former student who is now a geologist. He had heard this through the grapevine last week apparently. He is fascinated by volcanoes and thought briefly of branching off into volcanology...or whatever the study of volcanoes is called. He was excited by this news because he spent quite a bit of time in this very area during his Navy service. His comment was something along the lines of, "scary awesome to think that we might witness the eruption of a super volcano." Yikes!

Italy was also the centre of idiots that jailed scientists for failing to predict an earthquake back a few years ago.

Typically, scientists in Italy will now come out and suggest that any signs are signs of Armageddon. They have no choice!

The cause? A really pathetic and stupid judge. Now they have to live with the ramifications.

Stupid needs no reason.

P

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

Too bad it's not closer to Rome, if it's going to erupt it could have made the Vatican the new Pompeii. The Devil would finally get his due, as is a lot of good folks might be killed.

Although, in any case it should be quite a show. Cameras, satellites and other devices streaming live. Causal, slow boat rides instead of air travel for a while and cooler weather year round.

a reply to: pheonix358
They were acquitted, in the end, on appeal.
But, as a result of that medieval affair, seismology is not a great career path in Italy. A lot of popular opinion still blames them for the deaths.

a reply to: Phage

They were freed after an appeal and I believe that one of them ended up with a reduced sentence.

It was farcical. Now scientists in Italy will be cautious, as we all are of jail terms, and will fore warn on any damn thing. They have to.

P

a reply to: pheonix358
Yeah. I just got home and was replying quickly. Several edits above. But, yeah.

Jesus wept! They've just found the magma spot? You don't need to be a scientist for that, just tell them it's in that holey bit where the top should be.