Campi Flegrei is a caldera volcano located in Italy, situated in a subduction zone within continental crust exceeding 25 kilometers in thickness. The volcano stands at an elevation of 458 meters with coordinates 40.827° N, 14.139° E. Official records from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program document 20 confirmed eruptions spanning thousands of years, with the earliest recorded eruption beginning around 8480 BCE and the latest recorded eruption concluding in 1538 CE.
Overview of Recorded Eruptions
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 20 confirmed eruptions for Campi Flegrei. Among these events, the largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) reaches 5.0. Evidence methods used to date and analyze these historical events vary across the record, incorporating isotopic dating (such as calibrated and uncalibrated carbon-14 methods), tephrochronology correlations, and direct historical observations.
Because the full historical record includes 20 individual entries with varying levels of chronological precision, dates often carry estimated uncertainties. For instance, the earliest recorded eruption starting around 8480 BCE carries a start year uncertainty of 100 years. Later prehistoric events, such as an eruption in the Agnano Monte Spina activity area around 2150 BCE, carry uncertainties of up to 500 years alongside a VEI of 5.0.
Historical Activity and Latest Eruption
The latest recorded eruption in the official database occurred at Monte Nuovo. This confirmed eruption started on September 29, 1538 CE, and ended on October 6, 1538 CE, with a recorded VEI of 3.0 based on reported historical observations. The profile lists 1538 as the last known eruption year, marking the most recent completed volcanic event in the official record.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Campi Flegrei located?
Campi Flegrei is located in Italy.
How many eruptions have been recorded at Campi Flegrei?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program records 20 confirmed eruptions for Campi Flegrei.
When did the earliest recorded eruption occur?
The earliest recorded eruption in the official record began around 8480 BCE.
When was the last recorded eruption at Campi Flegrei?
The latest recorded eruption occurred at Monte Nuovo between September 29 and October 6, 1538 CE.
What is the largest recorded VEI for this volcano?
The largest recorded Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) for Campi Flegrei is 5.0.
Image credits
- Umbra Lab, Inc. — Wikimedia Commons source — CC BY 4.0
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.