On January 8 we linked to:
Europe's Largest Supervolcano Is Stirring
It has been slowly waking from a four-hundred year slumber for the last eight or nine years.
The last known major eruption was in September - October 1538.
From Il Mattino (Naples), December 22...
Previous visits after the jump.
From the Daily Mail, May 28:
Scientists warn one of world's supervolcanoes is awakening: 'It will plunge the planet into chaos'
A powerful series of earthquakes at Campi Flegrei, a massive supervolcano in Italy, has raised fresh concerns among scientists about the risk of a major eruption.
In May, the Phlegraean Fields near Naples was shaken by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake, the strongest in 40 years.
Over the past six months, scientists have recorded more than 3,000 smaller quakes, known as tremors, a figure far above normal seismic activity for the area.
Experts say eruptions are usually preceded with the increase in earthquake activity, as underground pressure builds up.
These small quakes can weaken the rock above the volcano's magma chamber, making it easier for magma to push through. Think of it like steam building in a pressure cooker, if the lid gets too weak, it could blow.
Geologists have also observed a sharp rise in gases being released from the volcano, another warning sign.
Adding to the alarm, carbon dioxide emissions from Campi Flegrei have surged, with Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reporting daily levels between 4,000 and 5,000 tons.
Experts say increased gas emissions often mean magma is moving closer to the surface, putting more pressure on the volcano.
According to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), magma is now just a few miles below the surface, a shallow depth that raises more concern.
If pressure continues to build, it could trigger an eruption with little warning, especially with all the recent quakes and gas releases.
Christopher R. J. Kilburn, leading volcanologist of IGNV said: 'Distinguishing between gas emissions caused by magma movement versus those resulting from natural rock interactions is absolutely critical.'
Campi Flegrei poses a serious threat to over four million people living in the metropolitan area of Naples.
If it erupts, the damage could be widespread. Buildings could be destroyed by lava flows, ash clouds, and fast-moving hot gases.
Roads, power, and water supplies might be cut off, making life dangerous and chaotic.
The city of Naples and nearby towns like Pozzuoli sit close to the Campi Flegrei, putting many lives and homes in the danger zone....
....MUCH MORE
October 12, 2023
"Italy plans for mass evacuation as quakes continue around supervolcano"
I know that sometimes it seems to be all bad news on the blog but
it's not really. For example, a few takeaways from this piece:
1) most of the time when supervolcanoes experience seismic activity there is no civilization-destroying eruption.
2) should the worst happen, the surviving woodland creatures will benefit from the re-wilding of previously urban areas.
3) It is not as if the volcano is going to go off tomorrow.
- We'll Have About A Year's Notice Of A Volcanic Super-Eruption That Could End Civilization
- "Europe's Most Dangerous Supervolcano Is Reawakening Just In Time For Christmas"
- "Is a super-volcano just 390 miles from London about to erupt?"
- Risk: Supervolcano Near Pompeii Could Have Globally Catastrophic Effects
Deadly European supervolcano could be rumbling towards a colossal eruption – study
