Supervolcano awakening could cause severe global climate impact

It is considered one of the following: Phlegrean Fields, the world’s most dangerous volcanic calderas due to their eruption potentialLocated just 15 km west of the center of Naples, Italy, the volcano has attracted the attention of scientists due to its intense and historical volcanic activities and especially the increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Growth activity occurs mainly in the Solfatara crater, where today fumarolic (hot gas emissions) and hydrothermal (boiling mud pits) activity occurs. The region, which is considered a natural laboratory for volcanology studies, has been causing daily CO2 emissions of 4,000 to 5,000 tons since 2005.

In research published last year in the journal Geology, a team of researchers led by volcanologist Gianmarco Buono of Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology concluded that 20% to 40% of CO2 comes from the dissolution of the calcite mineral in surrounding rocks. 60% to 80% is related to underground magma.

Monitoring the super volcano

When we call Phlegrean Mountains supervolcano, this term refers to an extremely powerful volcanic systemit is capable of producing eruptions thousands of times more powerful than conventional volcanoes. A single such eruption can eject more than a thousand cubic kilometers of volcanic material (ash, gases, pyroclastics, aerosols, and larger fragments).

The blocking of sunlight by these enormous volcanic clouds would cause a global climate impact, resulting in a drastic drop in the planet’s temperatures, large-scale death of vegetation, contamination of soil and water, and disruption of ecological cycles.

Therefore, scientific monitoring of this region involves various techniques such as monitoring earthquakes, measuring soil deformation, and analyzing the gases emitted by fumaroles. In 2012, the alert level was raised from green to yellow; this indicated increased activity, but there was no immediate danger of an explosion.

Future Implications of Super Volcano Research

Buono’s research was of great scientific importance because, in addition to the monitoring itself, it created a new tool that could distinguish between carbon dioxide coming from magma and carbon dioxide released by other processes. This approach is fundamental to public safety and environmental monitoring.

Although common sense tells us that an increase in gas emissions is a sign of impending potential volcanic activity, it is not that simple. Not every increase in gas emissions necessarily results in an explosion. Volcanic activity also depends on interactions between hot underground fluids and surrounding rocks.

As well as other supervolcanoes such as Yellowstone and Long Valley Caldera (both in the USA) and Toba (Indonesia), Phlegrean Fields serve as a constant alert reminder of our planet’s dynamism. This makes the work of scientists like Buono necessary to understand these dangerous events and inform communities.

Did you like the content? Stay up to date with more studies like this at TecMundo and understand how the eruption of the Toba supervolcano may have ‘expelled’ humans from Africa. Until later!