Campi Flegrei Volcano
Why in news?
- Recently, Campi Flegrei volcano highlights significant volcanic unrest.
- An artificial intelligence (AI) model revealed a previously unknown "ring fault" structure beneath the volcano, which is responsible for numerous earthquakes in the region and could trigger magnitude 5 quakes.
- Campi Flegrei, also called the Phlegraean Fields, is a large volcanic caldera located west of Naples, Italy, in the Bay of Naples area.​
- It is the largest active volcanic caldera in Europe, spanning approximately 12-15 km in diameter.​
- Unlike a single volcano like Mount Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei is a volcanic system made up of multiple craters and volcanic structures spread across the caldera.​
- The caldera was formed by massive eruptions, including one about 39,000 years ago that may have contributed to the decline of Neanderthals.​
- The volcanic system is still active, showing signs of a magma chamber under the area with phenomena like gas emissions, warm springs, and ground deformation (bradyseism).​
- Bradyseism causes the ground to rise and fall slowly, with notable historical episodes changing ground levels by several meters.​
- Past eruptions include some violent large-scale events thousands of years ago and smaller eruptions in historical times, such as the Monte Nuovo eruption in 1538 AD.​
