Rapid sea-level movements and noneruptive crustal deformations in the Phlegrean Fields caldera, Italy

Morhange, Christophe; Marriner, Nick; Laborel, Jacques; Todesco, Micol; Oberlin, Christine

doi:10.1130/g21894.1

Cited by 124 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…3) and repeated episodes of slow vertical ground movement (bradyseism) have been documented since Roman times. Vertical ground movements have been observed since the nineteenth century, when the sea-level marks left on the ruins of a Roman (Dvorak and Mastrolorenzo 1991;Morhange et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A correlation with the terrestrial geology of the Phlegrean Fields has been attempted in order to highlight tectonic and magmatic implications in the geological evolution of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex, intensively studied through field geology (Morhange et al 2005;Bellucci et al 2006;De Natale et al 2007;Bodnar et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Geologic history of rapid sea level movements and deformation in the Phlegrean Fields is recorded at the Serapis Roman marketplace, where it is inferred by several documents (Dvorak and Mastrolorenzo 1991;Morhange et al 2005). Three marble columns at Serapis showed evidence of once being submerged at least 7 m, then uplifted at a similar amount.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent vertical crustal movements of the Phlegrean Fields caldera based on ancient coastal ruins have been reconstructed (Dvorak and Mastrolorenzo 1991;Morhange et al 2005). Geologic history of rapid sea level movements and deformation in the Phlegrean Fields is recorded at the Serapis Roman marketplace, where it is inferred by several documents (Dvorak and Mastrolorenzo 1991;Morhange et al 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the elevation of other coastal ruins near Serapis, Dvorak and Mastrolorenzo (1991) estimated that the maximum amount of subsidence at Serapis has been 12-17 m. Two periods of uplift have been reconstructed, the first one a few decades before the 1538 eruption in the Phlegrean Fields and the other one in two distinct episodes, the first one from 1969 to 1972 and the second one from 1982 to 1984. Later, radiocarbondated biological indicators on the pillars of the Roman market have shown three 7 m relative sea level highstands, respectively during the fifth century, the early Middle Ages, and before the 1538 eruption of Monte Nuovo (Morhange et al 2005). These repeated uplift and subsidence cycles, not always followed by volcanic activity, have important implications for the evaluation of the volcanic hazard (Morhange et al 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

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New seismo-stratigraphic and marine magnetic data of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): inferences for the tectonic and magmatic events of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex (Campania)

2012

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A detailed reconstruction of the stratigraphic and tectonic setting of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay) is provided on the basis of newly acquired single channel seismic profiles coupled with already recorded marine magnetics gathering the volcanic nature of some seismic units. Inferences for the tectonic and magmatic setting of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex, a volcanic district surrounding the western part of the Gulf of Naples, where volcanism has been active since at least 50 ka, are also discussed. The Gulf of Pozzuoli represents the submerged border of the Phlegrean caldera, resulting from the volcano-tectonic collapse induced from the pyroclastic flow deposits of the Campanian Ignimbrite (35 ka). Several morpho-depositional units have been identified, i.e., the inner continental shelf, the central basin, the submerged volcanic banks and the outer continental shelf. The stratigraphic relationships between the Quaternary volcanic units related to the offshore caldera border and the overlying deposits of the Late Quaternary depositional sequence in the Gulf of Pozzuoli have been highlighted. Fourteen main seismic units, both volcanic and sedimentary, tectonically controlled due to contemporaneous folding and normal faulting have been revealed by geological interpretation. Volcanic dykes, characterized by acoustically transparent sub-vertical bodies, locally bounded by normal faults, testify to the magma uprising in correspondence with extensional structures. A large field of tuff cones interlayered with marine deposits off the island of Nisida, on the western rim of the gulf, is related to the emplacement of the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff deposits. A thick volcanic unit, exposed over a large area off the Capo Miseno volcanic edifice is connected with the Bacoli-Isola Pennata-Capo Miseno yellow tuffs, cropping out in the northern Phlegrean Fields.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

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New seismo-stratigraphic and marine magnetic data of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): inferences for the tectonic and magmatic events of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex (Campania)

2012

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Vertical ground displacement at Campi Flegrei (Italy) in the fifth century: Rapid subsidence driven by pore pressure drop

Todesco

Costa

Comastri

et al. 2014

Geophysical Research Letters

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Campi Flegrei (Italy) caldera has experienced episodes of ground deformation throughout its geological history, alternating between uplift and subsidence phases. Although uplift periods are typically more alarming, here we focus on subsidence, looking for its driving mechanisms and its role in the caldera evolution. Historical and archaeological records constrain ground deformation over the last two millennia.Here we revise such records and combine them with published radiometric dating and with the simulation of sea level change. The resulting analysis highlights for the first time a rapid subsidence during the fifth century. We show that rate and magnitude of this subsidence are consistent with the compaction of porous material caused by a pressure drop of~1 MPa within the hydrothermal system. We interpret this event as the decompression of the hydrothermal system following an unrecognized episode of unrest, during Roman times. These findings redefine the pattern of ground deformation and bear important implications for volcanic hazard assessment.

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Abrupt magma chamber contraction and microseismicity at Campi Flegrei, Italy: Cause and effect determined from strainmeters and tiltmeters

et al. 2015

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In March 2010 two borehole strainmeters and three Michelson tiltmeters within the Campi Flegrei volcanic system, Italy, registered an abrupt deformation signal that was followed 20 min later by seismic slip on a pair of onshore normal faults. We demonstrate that the observed strain changes were caused by a small but rapid volume decrease in a previously identified offshore ellipsoidal magma source or part of it. Although the total deflation was below the detectability of interferometric synthetic aperture radar and GPS, deflation observed rates were briefly 2 orders of magnitude more rapid than decadal inflation rates. We conclude that this high dilatational contraction rate was responsible for triggering seismicity and that this process may be responsible for the normal faulting often observed in the Campi Flegrei region. Our study quantifies the crucial role played by a transient, minor reduction in dilatational stress, in triggering slip on a fault near critical failure. Our subsurface measurements of strain and tilt registered anomalous deformation three sigma above background noise levels 17 min before the onset of microseismicity suggesting strain measurements have potential utility as an early warning system for the city of Naples.

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Rapid sea-level movements and noneruptive crustal deformations in the Phlegrean Fields caldera, Italy

Cited by 124 publications

References 20 publications

New seismo-stratigraphic and marine magnetic data of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): inferences for the tectonic and magmatic events of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex (Campania)

New seismo-stratigraphic and marine magnetic data of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay, Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): inferences for the tectonic and magmatic events of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex (Campania)

Vertical ground displacement at Campi Flegrei (Italy) in the fifth century: Rapid subsidence driven by pore pressure drop

Abrupt magma chamber contraction and microseismicity at Campi Flegrei, Italy: Cause and effect determined from strainmeters and tiltmeters

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