Campi flegrei, or burning fields. Is the supervolcano near Naples a threat?

Campi flegrei is a supervolcano considered the most dangerous on the Old Continent. Underneath the large caldera, which is 13 kilometers in diameter, there is a lake of liquid magma. If Campi flegrei erupts, hundreds of thousands of people could be at risk. An eruption of Campi flegrei could lead to a huge tragedy not only in Italy but also around the world.

What is Campi flegrei?

Campi flegrei is a supervolcano located near Naples, Italy. We will not see a high volcanic cone on the map of the area, and Campi flegrei does not fit into the landscape of Naples like Vesuvius. The supervolcano is located underground. The caldera of the volcano, consisting of chambers of liquid magma, includes, among others, the city of Pouzzuoli, where 80,000 people live. In total, almost 400,000 people live in the danger zone. people.

Campi Flegrei earthquake series

The Campi Flegrei supervolcano last erupted in 1538. However, since the second half of the 20th century, scientists have been observing its increased activity. Residents of the Naples area often feel minor tremors, the strongest of which was recorded on May 20 this year. It had a strength of 4.2 on the Richter scale and led to an outbreak of panic. The inhabitants of Pouzzuola left their homes and ran into the streets. The depth of the earthquake was 3 kilometers.

Can Campi flegrei explode?

If a supervolcano erupted, 1,000 km3 of pyroclastic material would be released into the atmosphere. Dust would cover the sky not only in Europe, but also in Asia and America. This could lead to a cooling of the climate and create a huge threat to people, animals and plants.

Such a tragedy probably happened 39,000 years ago. It was then that the volcanic eruption led to the formation of a volcanic winter, which changed the climate throughout the globe.

Could Campi flegrei explode? “Our new research confirms that Campi Flegrei is getting closer to bursting. However, this does not mean that an explosion is certain, he says,” said Prof. Christopher Kilburn from University College London for “National Geographic”.