One of the world's most dangerous supervolcanoes accumulates magma, going into a state that is usually observed before an eruption. And if it does, it could deal a devastating blow to a nearby city in southern Italy.
Scientists note that the eruption cannot be called inevitable. But the present state of the Phlegrean Fields indicates that this may happen "at some point in the future." Phlegrean Fields is one of the few active supervolcanoes in the world. It lies nine miles west of the city of Naples, home to 1.5 million people. The last eruption of the supervolcano occurred in 1538. This event went down in history as the explosion of Monte Nuovo.
However, 40 thousand years ago, an unusually powerful eruption took place here, which is second only to the historical record holder in Yellowstone. Over the past 60 years, the volcanic region, which consists of 24 craters and formations, has shown signs of activity. So scientists researched it and watched it closely to better understand when big changes were coming.
In the latest study, a team of scientists led by Francesca Forni from ETH Zurich analyzed samples of stones, minerals and glass that remained after 23 volcanoes of the Phlegraean fields over the past 60 thousand years. By analyzing the elements in these samples, the researchers were able to determine what happened before and after the supervolcano explosions. Scientists have found that magma is accumulating under the volcanic system, and it itself passes into a new caldera cycle. This may indicate the approach of a new phase, which will end with a powerful eruption. However, it is unlikely to happen in the near future.
Analysis of the samples showed significant changes in temperature and water content in the magma at certain points where the Flagraysky fields had erupted earlier. The amount of minerals in magma decreases more and more over time, and water increases. Similar changes took place before the explosion of Monte Nuovo. After the events of Monte Nuovo, the supervolcano entered a "new phase" of hibernation. But in the 1950s, there were three "major periods of trouble" that indicated his awakening.
Hannah Osborne