Russian geologist concerned about growth in Italian supervolcano

About three months ago, “significant changes in seismic parameters, geochemical and ground deformation compared to the levels recorded routinely” were recorded by the monitoring networks of INGV Vesuvius Observatory.

Now, to make matters worse the prospects of a possible resurgence of the Campi Flegrei is a Russian geologist Vladimir Kir’janov, professor of the faculty of geology at the State University of St. Petersburg.

According to information from “Voice of Russia”, it seems that the volcanic area of ​​Campi Flegrei is raising three inches above sea level each year. Microterremoti and gas accumulations in the soil have raised fears that the volcano is preparing to erupt.

Also known as the Phlegraean Fields, the Campi Flegrei is a large area of ​​volcanic origin located in the north-west of Naples. In the area are still recognizable least twenty-four craters and volcanic edifices, some of which have effusive gaseous manifestations (area of ​​Solfatara) or hydrothermal (Agnano , Pozzuoli, Lucrino). [What if the Campi Flegrei eruttassero?].

Based on the latest available data, which show a raising of the ground of 3 cm per month at sea level, Kir’janov expressed his concerns to the Voice of Russia:

“The Phlegraen Fields are a super volcano,” said Kir’janov. Yellowstone in the United States and Toba in Indonesia are also super volcanoes capable of spewing more than 1,000 cubic km of magma. These are catastrophic eruptions.

“There was a huge volcanic eruption in the Phlegraen Fields some 30,000-40,000 years ago. Volcanic ash from that eruption is still found in the Mediterranean, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and even in Russia. Now it’s happening yet another filling of the magma chamber and sooner or later the eruption could happen.”

But is it possible to predict when the next eruption could happen? Natalya Kovalenko explains that the eruptions of supervolcanoes are so rare that scientists cannot say how much time can pass between the initial signals and the outbreak itself.

“It’s an omen for quite a long time: it could fill for decades, even hundreds of years. It is not a current problem, many mountains grow two inches a year, is a natural process in geology. ”

In the 1970s the area of ​​Campi Flegrei  experienced a slow rise and fall of the land, which in three years raised the ground level a meter and a half (5 feet), causing cracks in many homes.

http://ilnavigatorecurioso.myblog.it/archive/2013/01/31/geologo-russo-e-preoccupato-per-i-campi-flegrei-camera-magma.html

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_01_30/Super-volcano-awakening-in-Italy/

Thanks to geologist Dr Mirco Poletto and Edwin Rees for these links