Lecture, March 10th 2021: "The Curious Case of the Campi Flegrei Volcanic Complex (Italy)" by Isabel O’Brien (Open University Graduate)

Abstract: This presentation compiles information from peer-reviewed literature relating to activity at the Campi Flegrei Volcanic Complex (Italy) over the past 2,200 years to examine the main models of caldera dynamics. The Campi Flegrei complex is one of the most active calderas in the world, yet it also has a high population density, thereby creating an extreme volcanic hazard. The Monte Nuovo eruption in 1538 was the only eruptive event in the last ~4,500 years. However, it is the ongoing non-eruptive events in the form of bradyseisms that are posing more immediate challenges to residents and civil protection agencies. The causes of these bradyseisms are the subject of current debate. Though there is not a definite model to explain the ongoing unrest, this presentation will highlight one of the most recent, and curious, hypotheses: one involving mineral reactions. Photo: 2014-10-29 Isabel's first day on the NMI's UCD Mineral Project. Photo by P Roycroft Date and Time: Wednesday, 10 March 2021, between 19:00 and 20:00 via Zoom. To Register: send an e-mail to irishgeologicalassociation@gmail.com by the 10th March 2021 at 1pm. A Zoom link will be sent on the day to those who have registered.