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Researchers believe that an ancient supervolcano has reawakened.
STATES CHRONICLE – Researchers announced that an ancient supervolcano has reawakened. This massive supervolcano was analyzed by a team of geologists. They monitored the signs of activity of Campi Flegrei. The volcano is located in a deep depression near Naples. The supervolcano was formed many years ago, erupting several times during the recent geological periods.
The new research was recently published in Nature Communications magazine. As a response to these findings, Italy’s officials has change the threat level imposed by the volcano from green to yellow, urging scientists to analyze the situation and share significant data accurately. Campi Flegrei, the ancient supervolcano which translates as burning fields from Italian, had first burst approximately 200,000 years ago, fueling the formation of a volcanic winter.
A volcanic winter refers to the massive amount of ash which was ejected into the air. This region is called the Phlegraean Fields. Similar to other volcanoes, this one does not represent a single volcanic cone. Campi Flegrei appears to be analogous to the supervolcano responsible for the Yellowstone caldera’s geothermal features.
Both supervolcanoes represent a massive complex. A big part of Campi Flegrei is situated under the Mediterranean Sea or underground, accounting for 24 craters, several vents with hot gas and many geysers. The most recent eruption of this volcano was registered to happen in 1538. The supervolcano has burst for eight days in a row causing the formation of a massive cloud of ash on the sky of Europe.
This particular eruption led to the developing of the well-known Monte Nuovo. Campi Flegrei which is located in the Bay of Naples had also erupted about 12,000 years ago and 40,000 years ago. Many scientists are of the opinion that the explosion from 40,000 years back may have been the greatest of all times. They have also assumed that an eruption of this grandeur may have caused the death of Neanderthal hominids species in Europe.
The international team which has recently developed the new study pointed out that it is impossible to establish for sure when the next eruption will take place. James Quick, a geologist at Southern Methodist University in Texas, noted that a supervolcano might soon cause a terrible explosion. Another reawakened supervolcano was revealed in the Sesia Valley. Scientists hope that this will help them predict an imminent danger.
Image source: wikipedia
