Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: Earth
Context: The Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei), a massive supervolcano in Italy, are exhibiting increased activity, raising concerns within the scientific community.
About the Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei):
• Location: Situated in the western suburbs of Naples, Italy, within the Campanian volcanic arc.
• Features: A 13-km wide caldera formed by collapsed volcanic craters. Emits between 4,000–5,000 tons of carbon dioxide daily.
• A 13-km wide caldera formed by collapsed volcanic craters.
• Emits between 4,000–5,000 tons of carbon dioxide daily.
About Super volcanoes:
What they are:
• A super volcano is a volcanic centre capable of producing eruptions ejecting over 1,000 km³ of material.
• They form vast depressions in the Earth’s crust called calderas.
Formation of Super volcanoes:
• Magma Accumulation: A large column of magma rises through a vent into the Earth’s crust but gets trapped.
• Melting Surrounding Rock: Over thousands of years, the trapped magma melts the surrounding rock, creating a massive magma chamber.
• Pressure Build-Up: The magma chamber grows in size, and pressure builds as gases dissolve in the magma.
• Eruption: When pressure exceeds the crust’s strength, it results in a massive eruption ejecting over 1,000 km³ of material.
• Caldera Formation: The land above the emptied magma chamber collapses, forming a large depression called a caldera.
Key Characteristics:
• Long formation timescales (thousands of years).
• Massive energy release and global impact during eruptions.
• Formation results in depressions rather than steep volcanic peaks.
Example: Yellowstone Caldera (USA), Toba (Indonesia), and Phlegraean Fields (Italy).
Difference Between Volcano and Supervolcano:
Aspect | Volcano | Super volcano
Size | Smaller, conical structure | Massive calderas spanning dozens of kilometres
Eruption Volume | Less than 1,000 km³ of material | More than 1,000 km³ of material
Frequency | More frequent eruptions | Extremely rare, occurring over millennia
Impact | Local or regional effects | Global climate and ecosystem impact
Visibility | Typically, visible as steep mountains | Often subtle depressions difficult to identify
Insta Links:
• Volcano