Comment on: “The dark nature of Somma-Vesuvius volcano: Evidence from the ∼3.5 ka BP Avellino eruption” by Milia A., Raspini A., Torrente M.M.

Abstract

We present here some criticism to the scientific content of the paper of Milia et al. [2007. The dark nature of Somma-Vesuvius volcano: evidence from the ∼3.5 ka B.P. Avellino eruption. Quaternary International, 173–174, 57–66] published in Quaternary International. Milia et al. (2007) interpreted seismic lines in the Gulf of Naples (southern Italy), and inferred the presence of deposits from a large debris avalanche which occurred just before the Avellino eruption of Somma-Vesuvius volcano. The authors supported their seismic profile interpretation with on-land stratigraphies and logs. However, we present here different on-land data that demonstrate the inconsistency of the occurrence of any debris avalanche before or after the Avellino eruption, and we provide also an alternative interpretation for the observed seismic facies offshore of Somma-Vesuvius.