Pozzuoli – The ground of the Campi Flegrei has risen again, confirming the dynamics of bradyseism, a phenomenon characteristic of this volcanic area.
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According to the weekly surveillance bulletin of the Vesuvius Observatory, the Naples branch of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), a resumption of ground uplift was recorded in the week from 3 to 9 March 2025, with a preliminary average speed of about 30 millimeters per month.
The data, collected by the Rione Terra Gnss station, in the historic center of Pozzuoli - an area considered the epicenter of the maximum deformation - indicate an acceleration of the phenomenon compared to previous months. However, as specified by the Observatory, these are still preliminary values, awaiting further confirmation in the coming weeks.
Lifting speed has tripled
The uplift of the ground in the Campi Flegrei It is not new, but it has shown significant variations in recent months. Between April and August 2024, the average uplift rate was about 20 millimeters per month, before decreasing to 10 millimeters per month from the end of August.
However, the seismic swarm of 15-19 February, culminating in a magnitude 3.9 earthquake, marked a new phase. In the days immediately following, a maximum uplift of about 1 centimeter was recorded in the areas of maximum deformation, with values decreasing as one moves away from the center of the caldera.
Since January 2024, the total uplift measured at the Rione Terra Gnss station has reached 23 centimeters, a figure that underlines the intensity of the ongoing phenomenon.
Constant monitoring
The Vesuvius Observatory continues to carefully monitor the evolution of the situation, remembering that bradyseism in the Campi Flegrei is a complex and cyclical process, which alternates phases of uplift with periods of stability or subsidence of the ground. The scientific community remains vigilant, ready to provide updates and assessments in real time to guarantee the safety of the population.
Meanwhile, in Pozzuoli and the surrounding municipalities, attention remains high. The memory of the bradyseismic crises of the '70s and '80s, which led to the evacuation of thousands of residents, is still vivid. Today, however, technology and advanced monitoring systems allow us to address the phenomenon with greater awareness and preparation.
Article published on March 12, 2025 - 06pm
It is interesting that the ground of Campi Flegrei is rising, but it worries me a little. The data is still preliminary and we must be careful because bradyseism is a complicated phenomenon that can lead to risky situations if not monitored well.