Campi Flegrei

[bjdeming]

Update from Civil Protection (Italian) ten hours ago, via GT:

Seismic swarm at Campi Flegrei: update on civil protection activities

After the 4.4 magnitude earthquake, the civil protection system is working to assist the population of the area and carry out checks on the buildings


Civil Protection in Pozzuoli

Assistance to the population. In Pozzuoli, from the first hours after the earthquake, five waiting areas were set up to guarantee initial assistance to the population, connected, by shuttles, to a large reception area created at the Palazzetto dello Sport-Palatrincone of Monterusciello, which acts as refreshment point and overnight stay. The municipalities of Bacoli and Naples are also equipped to respond to any need for assistance to the population. There are over 200 civil protection volunteers from the Campania Region engaged in these activities and in providing support to the operational structures activated in the area.

Building checks. Inspections on public and private buildings by teams of technicians from the Fire Brigade, the Campania Region and the Municipalities of Bacoli and Pozzuoli continue in the affected areas, also on the basis of requests received from citizens. The coordination of activities is carried out at the municipal operations centers where staff from the Civil Protection Department and the Campania Region are present. In total, over 400 inspections have been conducted on private homes up to yesterday evening: at the moment, in the Municipality of Pozzuoli, 38 properties have been declared uninhabitable following the earthquake, while in Bacoli and Naples the checks carried out have not given negative results.

Monitoring activities. The monitoring activity of the state of the volcano by the INGV Vesuvian Observatory continues and intensifies, not only with regard to seismicity and ground deformations, but also with respect to the hydrothermal activity of the area and gas emissions from the soil.

Major Risks Commission. Yesterday the Major Risks Commission - Volcanic Risk Sector met, which recommended maintaining high attention on volcano monitoring activities and on risk prevention and mitigation measures. Although no elements are found that suggest a migration of the magma towards more superficial levels, the analysis of the multiparametric data highlights the continuation of the intensification of the bradyseismic phenomenon. The worsening of the ongoing crisis therefore requires frequent checks of the state of the volcano. The commission also highlights that seismic activity may continue or increase in the coming weeks. At present the yellow alert level remains.

There are apparently some fumaroles in that western part of the submerged caldera. Data from the existing MEDUSA stations, BTW, confirm that the bay's seafloor rises, too, with the bradyseism.

 

[bjdeming]

More info from INGV (Italian) on that hydrothermal area -- it isn't new but they want to monitor it more closely.

It's closer to the north shore than the western ones:

Per GT:

A new infrastructure with highly sensitive sensors has been installed for monitoring volcanic degassing in the sea

As is known, the Campi Flegrei caldera also extends into the marine area in the Gulf of Pozzuoli where the "Medusa" multi-parametric geophysical monitoring network is already present.

In order to strengthen the multiparametric geochemical research and monitoring infrastructure of the Vesuvian Observatory of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV-OV) right in the submerged sector of the Phlegraean caldera, a new multiparametric observatory has recently been installed for the study of the submarine hydrothermal degassing process.

This installation, also created thanks to the contribution of the Department of Civil Protection, is part of the numerous activities for the implementation and strengthening of the networks and general investigations on this sector of the caldera.

The installation was made possible thanks to the INGV underwater group, coordinated by the Fluid Geochemistry Functional Unit of the INGV-Vesuvian Observatory, in coordination with the Campi Flegrei Archaeological Park and the other authorities responsible for protecting the territory.

The affected area was identified in a particular sector of the Gulf of Pozzuoli known as "Secca delle Fumose", already the subject of studies and monitoring and where the installation of other marine scientific instruments is planned.

The new marine observatory allows continuous monitoring of the temperature of hydrothermal emissions at the bottom, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) of volcanic origin dissolved in sea water and the sea current: all useful parameters for estimating the energy associated with the submarine degassing process and monitoring of any variations.

This new instrumentation enhances the Multiparametric Network infrastructure already existing in the Campi Flegrei caldera in the submerged sector of the caldera, which presents objective logistical difficulties.

 

[bjdeming]

There's been another swarm, per the Commune of Pozzuoli on Facebook, but shorter and with a max of "only" about M2.7.

Some people, per the Commune feed, are still displaced but 80% of the building checks for damage from the more intense swarm earlier this week have been completed

 

[bjdeming]

Reassuring news from INGV in this week's bulletin.

Per GT:

SUMMARY STATUS OF ACTIVITY
In light of the monitoring data, it is highlighted:

1) SEISMOLOGY: In the week from 20 to 26 May 2024, in the Campi Flegrei area, there were 274 earthquakes with magnitude Md≥0.0 (Mdmax=4.4±0.3) were localized.

2) DEFORMATIONS: In the last week there have been no significant changes in the parameters of ground deformations.

3) GEOCHEMISTRY: There are no significant variations in the geochemical parameters monitored in the reference period with respect to the trends of increase in flows and heating of the system already known hydrothermal. The temperature sensor installed in a fumarole emission 5 meters from the Pisciarelli's main fumarole showed an average value of ~95°C.

2. EXPECTED SCENARIOS

Based on the current picture of volcanic activity outlined above, no elements are highlighted such as to suggest significant short-term developments.

N.B. Any variations in the monitored parameters, which may lead to a different evolution of the phenomena described above will be the subject of further investigation promptly communicated.

 

[bjdeming]

A short swarm this time, but reportedly (autotranslated) with three strong tremors in the Solfatara area.