The volcano of Campi Flegrei, which is located near the Italian city of Naples, began to wake up. This volcano is considered one of the largest in the world, and now the pressure of magma beneath it, according to scientists, has reached a critical point. In fact, we are talking about the fact that the volcano can wake up at any moment. And it is very dangerous not only for the residents of Naples, but also for other regions of Italy.
volcano caldera was formed 39 thousand. years ago, during the largest for 200 thousand. years eruptions in the region. Perhaps this event was the reason for the relocation of the Neanderthals in the eastern Mediterranean. Now, sometimes, the gases in a small amount of the crater, which suggests that under the surface there remains a hotbed of activity. For Campi Flegrei, scientists are monitoring many years and do not seem in vain.
In 1950 the surface of the caldera began to move, rising since more than 3 meters. Caldera - tsirkoobraznaya vast basin of volcanic origin, often with steep walls and more or less flat bottom. Such depressions formed after the collapse of a volcano crater walls or as a result of a catastrophic eruption.
In the 1980s, this process has accelerated in the region have also been several earthquakes. The scientists then had already begun to suspect that the volcano starts to slowly wake up. Nevertheless, all suddenly ended and the Campi Flegrei calmed down for a few years - until 2005. Since the surface again started to rise, the level rose to 0.4 meters. Under the volcano caldera magma accumulates gradually.
Due to the fluctuations of the upper layer of the earth's crust caused by volcanic activity, it plunged into the water of the coastal town of Pozzuoli. Now, the region is at a depth of 10 meters and is a tourist attraction. Sank to the bottom of the sea, tourists exploring the city with the help of special courts with inserted at the bottom of the porthole.
With regard to the eruption of the volcano, it is not so easy to predict, and even regular earthquakes or gas emissions from the crater is not always a clear sign of awakening "fiery mountain". Experts from Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, headed by Professor Giovanni Chiodini decided to use a new method of monitoring the activity of the volcano. This method, according to experts, can serve as a reliable tool for determining the awakening volcanoes.
It is to monitor the heat transfer from magma to nearby rocks, resulting in release of water vapor from the magma. When magma comes close to the surface, the pressure is somewhat reduced, which allows carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gaseous compounds to go higher. Water vapor is an excellent coolant, which distributes heat to the nearby rocks and condenses. Once the magma heats the surrounding rocks, the heat flow goes up. Species are heated, their strength is reduced, resulting in deformation of the overlying layers. If heating is continued below, this can result in an eruption.
Italian scientists decided to use a computer model to clarify the behavior of the exhaust gases and steam up. When the pressure on the rocks at the point of contact of magma with the crust reaches a critical indicator, gases and water vapor go up even more active, which can be determined with the help of tools. The increase in volumes "runaway" of magma gases, according to the Italians - a reliable sign of an early awakening of the volcano.
The computer model showed that the water vapor released is now much more actively than before. As a result, the layers of rock above the magma already warmed up to 60 degrees Celsius. What is even more important is that the model has demonstrated the achievement of a critical magma pressure, after which begins the active phase of the volcano awakening.
Unfortunately, the accurate prediction can not make wake-up time. The volcano can wake up in a few years, and in a few decades. The model, which is used by scientists, does not allow to study the structure of the volcano, to understand when and how the rising magma will break out. And the volcano - a very complex system, which can unexpectedly go to sleep and wake up at least unexpected. For example, to cool down, deprived of gas magma may be frozen, closed way out hotter layers. Sleep between 1984 and 2005 - an example of such "sleep."
Without a doubt, half a million people living near the caldera, at risk. Needless eruption will not necessarily be as powerful as 39 thousand. Years ago. This volcano erupted and less active, for example, in 1538.
Referenced Materials:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldera
- http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/naples-sleeping-volcano-might-be-waking-up/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pozzuoli
- http://www.ingv.it/en/
- https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vulcano+Monte+Nuovo/@40.8363731,14.0840802,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xeb99e901e642f0fa!8m2!3d40.834918!4d14.087777!5m1!1e4
- http://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms13712
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