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Journal of the Geological Society; 2003; v. 160; issue.2; p. 309-317;
DOI: 10.1144/0016-764902-045
© 2003 Geological Society of London

Original Article

Offshore debris avalanches at Somma–Vesuvius volcano (Italy): implications for hazard evaluation

Alfonsa Milia1, Maurizio M. Torrente2 & Agostino Zuppetta2

1 1Istituto per l'Ambiente Marino Costiero, Geomare Sud Napoli (CNR), Calata Porta di Massa, I-80100, Naples, Italy (e-mail: milia@gms01.geomare.na.cnr.it)
2 2Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali, Università del Sannio, Via Portarsa 11, I-82100 Benevento, Italy

Somma–Vesuvius is an active volcano with a breached crater close to the continental shelf of Naples Bay, Italy. The interpretation of high-resolution seismic profiles offshore of Somma–Vesuvius shows interlayered volcanic and marine units in the Late Quaternary succession. In particular, the detailed seismo-stratigraphic analysis permitted, for the first time, the identification and mapping of two thick debris avalanche deposits located on the continental shelf. With a volume of 2.9 km3, the older debris avalanche, linked to the 18 ka Pomici di Base plinian eruption, was emplaced in a subaerial environment and then overlain by the sedimentary deposits of the lowstand prograding wedge. The younger debris avalanche, linked to the 3.4 ka Avellino plinian eruption, has a volume of c. 1 km3 and is interlayered within the marine sediments deposited during the sea-level highstand. The identification of two debris avalanches originating from Somma–Vesuvius has two important implications: (1) the occurrence of two sector collapses in the history of Somma–Vesuvius volcano; (2) a potential volcano slope failure and consequent tsunamis produced by the entry of a debris avalanche into Naples Bay should be considered in the volcanic hazard evaluation of this densely populated area.

Key Words: Somma–Vesuvius volcano • Italy • debris avalanches • continental shelf • volcano collapse




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