Supervolcano shows signs of imminent eruption, 500,000 endangered, first eruption in 39,000 years

Campi Flegrei supervolcano is showing signs of imminent activity.

An Italian supervolcano is showing signs of new activity consistent with approaching eruption. Should the volcano erupt, it could imperil all of Europe.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - The Campi Flegrei volcano in Naples, Italy is showing signs that it is nearing a critical threshold beyond which it becomes likely to erupt. Although it is impossible to say just when the volcano will erupt, scientists are keeping a close eye on developments. The news was shared Tuesday via Phys.org which covers news of scientific interest.

The scientists said the volcano shows signs of "reawakening" and that it is presently near a critical pressure point beyond which its activity could increase 10-fold. Rising magma from deep below Earth's surface is pressuring the volcano.

More steam and gasses will vent from the rock in the near term. There can be many small earthquakes which will grow in intensity as the ground below the caldera deforms. Eventually, an eruption could make the eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius look small by comparison. Campi Flegrei would impact the whole of Europe, imperiling human life, as well as livestock and crops. Ash could ring the entire planet, lowering temperatures for several years. It would also belch a tremendous quantity of greenhouse gasses, CO2 into the atmosphere. This would lead to greenhouse heating of the planet's surface once the ash fell out of the sky.

As many as 500,000 people who live in or near the ancient crater could be in immediate danger, should the volcano prepare to erupt. At this time, nobody can say this is imminent, but it does appear the threat is growing.

Since 2005, the ground in the crater has risen, a process known as "uplift." This development has led to constant monitoring of the volcano. The volcano has steadily been watched, 24-hours per day, since 2012.

The process is now accelerating, with more, faster uplift, and increased seismic activity.

Campi Flegrei has erupted twice in known history, one small eruption took place in 1538, and a large eruption occurred 39,000 years ago before the region was inhabited. It was the eruption 39,000 years ago that created the caldera in which hundreds of thousands of people now live.

In 1538, the time between people noticing the uplift and the eruption was about 36 years.

At this moment, there is no need to panic, or to sell one's home. However, it is becoming increasingly possible that something could happen. If the 1538 eruption is any indicator, we can expect something to happen within the next three decades, give or take a bit.

Or, the plume of rising magma could be much larger than in 1538, and our time could be much less.

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