Phlegraean Fields. The Phlegraean Fields is a large supervolcano situated to the west of Naples, Italy.
It was declared a regional park in 2003. The area of the caldera consists of 24 craters and volcanic edifices; most of them lie under water.
Hydrothermal activity can be observed at Lucrino, Agnano and the town of Pozzuoli. There are also effusive gaseous manifestations in the Solfatara crater, the mythological home of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.
This area is monitored by the Vesuvius Observatory. The area also features bradyseismic phenomena, which are most evident at the Macellum of Pozzuoli: bands of boreholes left by marine molluscs on marble columns show that the level of the site in relation to sea level has varied.
Three geological phases or periods are recognised and distinguished. The First Phlegraean Period. It is thought that the eruption of the Archiflegreo volcano occurred about 39,280±110 years ago, erupting about 200 km 3 of magma to produce the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption. Its Volcanic Explosivity Index was 7. The dating of the Campanian Ignimbrite Eruption to ~37,000 calendar years B.P. draws attention to the coincidence of this volcanic catastrophe and the suite of coeval, Late Pleistocene biocultural changes that occurred within and outside the Mediterranean region. These included the Middle to Upper Paleolithic cultural transition and the replacement of Neanderthal pop
It was declared a regional park in 2003. The area of the caldera consists of 24 craters and volcanic edifices; most of them lie under water.
Hydrothermal activity can be observed at Lucrino, Agnano and the town of Pozzuoli. There are also effusive gaseous manifestations in the Solfatara crater, the mythological home of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.
This area is monitored by the Vesuvius Observatory. The area also features bradyseismic phenomena, which are most evident at the Macellum of Pozzuoli: bands of boreholes left by marine molluscs on marble columns show that the level of the site in relation to sea level has varied.
Three geological phases or periods are recognised and distinguished. The First Phlegraean Period. It is thought that the eruption of the Archiflegreo volcano occurred about 39,280±110 years ago, erupting about 200 km 3 of magma to produce the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption. Its Volcanic Explosivity Index was 7. The dating of the Campanian Ignimbrite Eruption to ~37,000 calendar years B.P. draws attention to the coincidence of this volcanic catastrophe and the suite of coeval, Late Pleistocene biocultural changes that occurred within and outside the Mediterranean region. These included the Middle to Upper Paleolithic cultural transition and the replacement of Neanderthal pop
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