Abstract
Abstract. The Naples (southern Italy) area has the highest volcanic risk in the world due to the coexistence of three highly explosive volcanoes (Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ischia) with extremely dense urbanisation. More than 3 million people live to within 20 kilometres from a possible eruptive vent. Mitigating such an extreme risk is made difficult because volcanic eruption forecasting is currently an empirical procedure with a very uncertain outcome. This paper starts by recalling the state of the art of eruption forecasting, and then describes the main hazards in the Neapolitan area, shortly presenting the activity and present state of its volcanoes. Then, it proceeds to suggest the most effective procedures to mitigate the extreme volcanic and associated risks. The problem is addressed in a highly multidisciplinary way, taking into account the main economic, sociological and urban issues. The proposed mitigation actions are then compared with the existing emergency plans, developed by Italian Civil Protection, by highlighting their numerous, very evident faults. Our study, besides regarding the most complex and extreme situation of volcanic risk in the world, gives guidelines for assessing and managing volcanic risk in any densely urbanised area.
Highlights
Volcanic eruptions, in particular super-eruptions from large calderas, represent one of the highest natural threats to humankind (Newhall and Dzurisin, 1988; Papale and Marzocchi, 2019)
This paper starts by recalling the state of the art of eruption forecasting, and describes the main hazards in the Neapolitan area, shortly presenting the activity and present state of its volcanoes
Neapolitan volcanism is hosted in the larger Campania Plain, a former volcanic field which has given rise to six ignimbritic eruptions since about 300 000 to 39 000 years BP; the last one (Campanian Ignimbrite, 39 000 years BP) is the largest eruption that ever occurred in Europe to our knowledge
Summary
In particular super-eruptions from large calderas, represent one of the highest natural threats to humankind (Newhall and Dzurisin, 1988; Papale and Marzocchi, 2019). There are places on Earth in which very explosive volcanic areas are densely populated; in such cases, the volcanic threat can be very high even in the case of moderate to small eruptions, and the volcanic risk can attain extremely high values. This is exactly the case of the volcanoes located in the Neapolitan area (southern Italy). Neapolitan volcanoes have been among the most known in the world: Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and the island of Ischia, all of them very. Addressing the best procedures to mitigate volcanic risk here is a very important benchmark for any populated volcanic area in the world
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
