Bradyseism

Bradyseism is the gradual uplift (positive bradyseism) or descent (negative bradyseism) of part of the Earth's surface caused by the filling or emptying of an underground magma chamber or hydrothermal activity, particularly in volcanic calderas. It can persist for millennia in between eruptions and each uplift event is normally accompanied by thousands of small to moderate earthquakes.^[1] The word derives from the ancient Greek words βραδύς bradús, meaning "slow", and σεισμός seismós meaning "movement", and was coined by Arturo Issel in 1883.^[2][3][4]

The "Serapium" or Macellum of Pozzuoli demonstrated the effects of bradyseism.

Phlegraean Fields

The area of Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei), near Naples, is a collapsed caldera, namely a volcanic area formed by several volcanic edifices, which includes the Solfatara volcano, well known for its fumaroles. The Campi Flegrei area is especially noted for bradyseismic uplift and subsidence. The inflation and deflation of this caldera is especially well documented due to its seaside location and a long history of habitation and construction in the area.

In particular, the town of Pozzuoli features the Roman Macellum of Pozzuoli in which three marble columns show bands of boreholes or Gastrochaenolites left by marine Lithophaga molluscs. These occur up to 7 metres up the columns, showing how bradyseism in the area lowered the land to at least this depth under the sea and subsequently raised it again.^[2]

More recently, between 1968 and 1972, the Campi Flegrei area suffered an episode of positive bradyseism and rose by 1.7 metres. Another rise of 1.8 metres occurred between 1982 and 1984. This correlated with a shallow (4 km deep) earthquake swarm during the same period, which led to the evacuation of 30,000 people due to the perceived risk of imminent eruption.^[5]

References

1. De Natale, G.; Troise, C.; Pingue, F.; Mastrolorenzo G.; Pappalardo L.; Battaglia M.; Boschi E. (2006). "The Campi Flegrei caldera: unrest mechanisms and hazards". In Troise C., De Natale G. & Kilburn C.R.J. (ed.). Mechanisms of activity and unrest at large calderas. Special Publications. Vol. 269. London: Geological Society. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-86239-211-3. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
2. Scandone, R.; Giacomelli, L.; Speranza, F.F. (2006). "1. The volcanological history of the volcanoes of Naples: a review". In De Vivo B. (ed.). Volcanism in the Campania Plain: Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei and Ignimbrites. Developments in volcanology. Vol. 9. Elsevier. pp. 7–9. ISBN 978-0-444-52175-0. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
3. Orsi, G.; Civetta L.; de Vita S.; Di Vito M.A.; Isaia R.; Petrazzuoli S.M.; Ricciardi G.P.; Ricco C. (1999). "Short-term ground deformations and seismicity in the resurgent Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy): an example of active block-resurgence in a densely populated area". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 91 (2–4). Elsevier: 415–451. Bibcode:1999JVGR...91..415O. doi:10.1016/S0377-0273(99)00050-5.
4. "Bradyseism in the Flegrea Area". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
5. Lima, A.; De Vivo B.; Spera F.J.; Bodnar R.J.; Milia A.; Nunziata C.; Belkin H.E.; Cannatelli C. (2009). "Thermodynamic model for uplift and deflation episodes (bradyseism) associated with magmatic–hydrothermal activity at the Campi Flegrei (Italy)" (PDF). Earth-Science Reviews. 97 (1–4). Elsevier: 44–58. Bibcode:2009ESRv...97...44L. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2009.10.001.