The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), with its Naples section, Vesuvian Observatory (OV), continuously measures every variation in the chemical-physical parameters detectable by the instruments currently available.
The operations room is active 24 hours a day, as are all the seismic, geodetic, geochemical stations, etc. distributed in the Phlegraean area, making this volcano the most monitored in the world.
(as in the other volcanic areas of Campania) are carried out both through instrumental networks - appropriately designed - that produce data continuously, both through periodic measurement campaigns.
The information collected is analyzed by automatic systems and subsequently checked and interpreted by INGV-OV staff so as to be constantly updated on the state of activity of the volcano.
Instrumental networks are operational at the Campi Flegrei for:
⟫ Seismological monitoring
⟫ Geodetic monitoring
⟫ Volcanological monitoring
⟫ Geochemical monitoring
the specifics of which are easily consultable on INGV-OV website in the “Surveillance” section -> “Monitoring activities” ().
All scientific data collected in the Neapolitan volcanic areas are constantly published in weekly and monthly bulletins (and in the case of significant events, even more frequently), made immediately public on the INGV-Osservatorio Vesuviano website and on the INGVvulcani social networks (Facebook, Instagram, etc.).
The Bulletins can be consulted on the website:
The weekly bulletins are currently issued only for the Campi Flegrei (by the INGV Vesuvian Observatory) and for Stromboli (by the INGV Etna Observatory) because the two volcanoes are at the yellow level (attention, therefore below the orange and red ones) in the scale of alerting the National Civil Protection e report the seismicity data that occurred from 0:00 am on Monday until 24:00 am on the following Sunday (7 day interval), as well as all available geodetic and geochemical data. In particular, the main seismological data of all events with magnitude-duration (Md) greater than 0.0 are published, even those that occurred during the swarms.
The complete catalog of earthquakes, classified according to the revision level (Automatic, Revised, Bulletin), is available on the portal . The three levels correspond to the different phases of event analysis.
The complete guide to using the GOSSIP - Seismic Events portal (also with the difference in the "Automatic, Revised and Bulletin" review levels) can always be found on the INGV-OV website at the link ).
Also on the INGV-OV website, you can find the , operational definition of “earthquake swarm”, summarized in the following table
With regards to ground deformations in the Campi Flegrei, the weekly and monthly bulletins indicate the results of the data analysis of the (GPS data) with images and diagrams describing the trend of the deformation process over time, with particular detail of the ground lifting recorded by some more representative stations, both in the emerged and submerged parts of the caldera. The data is evaluated over different time intervals, in such a way as to provide a vision of the variations over the long, medium and short term.
Furthermore, using data from all stations, they come cyclically created summary maps that describe the shape and extent of the ground deformations (horizontal and vertical) of the Phlegraean caldera.
In addition to the results of the analysis of the GNSS network data, the monthly bulletins also report those of the tiltmetric, dilatometric, gravimetric and tideographic networks which, in an overall view, contribute to the complete geodetic monitoring of the Campi Flegrei.
For geochemical measurements, the Bulletins contain data on monthly measurements of carbon dioxide (CO.) flows2) spread from the soil and the chemical composition of the major fumaroles in the Pisciarelli and Solfatara areas. The parameters acquired by the device are also reported (temperature of fumaroles, flows of carbon dioxide measured on the ground and its concentration in the air), continuously measured by the stations of Pisciarelli (weekly bulletins) and Solfatara, sites close to inhabited areas of the territory.
Furthermore, the Bulletins always report a summary of all the parameters collected (of all the monitoring networks), together with the evaluation of the overall picture of the activity.
Any significant changes in observationssuch as to lead to the hypothesis of evolutions and changes in short-term scenarios are immediately communicated to the Civil Protection and reported in the Bulletins.
Therefore, it is worth reiterating that for a correct evaluation of the data reported (always in real time and according to the communication times indicated above), specific skills and experience are required, as well as the availability of the high processing and calculation tools developed by INGV and in use at the Vesuvian Observatory and the other Sections of the INGV in Italy (or similar instruments in use at other scientific institutions).
The INGV-Osservatorio Vesuviano is not responsible for the use, interpretation or improper evaluation of the data which may give rise to incorrect or inconsistent considerations made by third parties, as indicated at the bottom of the Bulletins.
The interpretations developed by the INGV are reported without any hesitation in the aforementioned Bulletins and constitute the only official and validated document on the phenomena taking place at the volcanoes in the Neapolitan area, as reiterated several times in numerous other communications.
Finally, we would like to remind you that INGV is the public research body responsible for seismic and volcanic surveillance in Italy (Legislative Decree no. 381 of 29 September 1999), and is a member of the National Civil Protection Service (Legislative Decree no. Legislative Decree no. 1 of 2 January 2018), operating with the Department of Civil Protection on the basis of a formal agreement which regulates the methods of collaboration, the management of databases, the preparation of technical-scientific activities in emergencies, as well as the training, communication and dissemination activities on the topics of seismic, volcanic and tsunami hazard and risk.
The interpretations of the data published by the INGV-Osservatorio Vesuviano not included in the official documents existing between the INGV itself and the Department of Civil Protection, always constitute a personal opinion, for which those who disseminate them to the public assume full responsibility, even through the media.
