Campi Flegrei

Campi Flegrei Latest News

Recently, Scientists observed cyclical episodes of unrest, notably during 1982–1984 and 2011–2024, marked by land uplift, seismic activity, and rumbling sounds caused by underground fluid pressure at Campi Flegrei.

About Campi Flegrei

• Campi Flegrei, also known as the Phlegraean Fields, is an active volcanic region situated near Naples, Italy.
• It differs from traditional volcanoes like Mount Vesuvius, as it is not a single volcano but a volcanic system spread across a large caldera.
• The caldera, or volcanic depression, spans approximately 12–15 km in diameter and was created due to a massive eruption around 39,000 years ago.
• This eruption is hypothesized to have had such a climatic impact that it contributed to the decline of Neanderthals.

Physical Characteristics

• One-third of Campi Flegrei lies beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea, between the Italian mainland and the island of Sardinia.
• It is the largest active volcanic caldera in Europe, far larger and more active than Mount Vesuvius.
• The last recorded eruption was in 1538, forming Monte Nuovo and ending an interval of roughly 3000 years without eruptions.
• Campi Flegrei is categorised as a supervolcano, implying that a large-scale eruption could have global consequences, including climate disruption.

Campi Flegrei FAQs

Q1: What is Campi Flegrei?
Ans: Campi Flegrei is a large volcanic caldera located near Naples, Italy, and is considered one of the most potentially dangerous supervolcanoes in the world.

Q2: What makes Campi Flegrei significant?
Ans: It has a history of explosive eruptions and is showing signs of ground uplift and seismic activity, indicating rising magma and potential future eruption.

Q3: What is bradyseism and how is it related to Campi Flegrei?
Ans: Bradyseism refers to the gradual uplift or subsidence of the ground due to magma movement; Campi Flegrei is known for active bradyseismic episodes.

Source: PHY