Speaker
Description
Campi Flegrei is one of the most emblematic volcanic areas in the world for the study of bradyseism, a phenomenon characterized by slow ground uplift and subsidence, often accompanied by seismicity, changes in hydrothermal activity, and variations in gas emissions. The historical record of vertical ground movements in the caldera is exceptionally long and well documented, thanks to archaeological, geological, and instrumental evidence.
The remains of the Roman market of Pozzuoli, traditionally known as the Serapeum, represent one of the most iconic markers of long-term ground deformation, recording alternating phases of subsidence and uplift over the last two millennia. The most dramatic historical expression of bradyseism occurred before the 1538 eruption of Monte Nuovo, when significant uplift affected the Pozzuoli area and culminated in the birth of a new volcanic cone.
In the twentieth century, two major bradyseismic crises occurred in 1969–1972 and 1982–1984, producing remarkable ground uplift, intense seismicity, damage to buildings, and the evacuation of part of Pozzuoli. Since 2005, Campi Flegrei has entered a new phase of unrest, marked by progressive uplift, increasing seismic activity, and persistent hydrothermal degassing, particularly in the Solfatara–Pisciarelli area.
This contribution reviews the main stages of bradyseism at Campi Flegrei, integrating historical observations with modern monitoring data. Understanding the evolution of past and ongoing unrest is essential for interpreting the present dynamics of the caldera and for improving volcanic hazard assessment in this densely populated area.