By Letara Draghia •
Updated: 30 Nov 2024 • 15:39 • 1 minute read
The Phlegraean Fields, a supervolcano located west of Naples, Italy, is stirring concern among scientists due to increased volcanic gas emissions and seismic activity.
This massive geological system, one of the top global emitters of volcanic carbon dioxide (CO2), has been under close observation for decades. So why is it making headlines now?
Supervolcano’s rising carbon dioxide and seismic changes
Recent studies, including one led by Gianmarco Buono from the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), show that carbon dioxide emissions from the Solfatara crater have surged. Currently, the crater emits between 4,000 and 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide daily – equivalent to burning a whopping 500,000 gallons of petrol! How’s that for climate change?
Buono explained, “Our aim is to provide a tool to better discriminate the contribution of magmatic and non-magmatic carbon dioxide that can also be applied to other systems.”
His team’s findings indicate that 60-80 per cent of this carbon dioxide is magma-derived, while the rest comes from the interaction of hot fluids with calcite in surrounding rocks. Understanding these sources helps scientists predict volcanic behaviour and improve early-warning systems.
Since 2005, temperatures and gas composition in the area have shifted, pointing to underground changes. The region has also experienced ground deformation and minor earthquakes. While these factors highlight volcanic unrest, they do not guarantee an eruption.
Will the supervolcano in Italy erupt?
Supervolcano eruptions are rare but devastating, with the potential to eject over 1,000 cubic kilometres of lava which would disrupt ecosystems and climates. The last eruption of the Phlegraean Fields occurred in 1538, but the area’s history of volcanic activity spans 40,000 years.
As Earth’s dynamic systems continue to evolve, vigilance remains key to mitigating risks.
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