Volcanic Eruptions of Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius:

The 'humpbacked' Mount Vesuvius is characterized by Gran Cono, a large cone and a steep caldera summit. The volcanic mountain is also referred to as Somma-Vesuvius or Somma-Vesuvio due to the collapse of Monte Somma, a much higher structure in the peripheral, during the AD 79 eruption. Paroxysmal eruptions that occurred later, resulted in the mountain earning the nickname 'Somma Volcano'. The main cone rises 4,202 ft above ground level. The mountain sides are scarred by lava, but are paradoxically heavily vegetated. The presence of scrub and vineyards around this active volcano makes it a tourist hot-spot.

Vesuvius eruptions are characterized by viscous andesite lava, pumice and scoria. Research reveals that Vesuvius is the result of the collision of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The crust material heated to become molten magma, or liquid rock, producing the volcano as we know it today. Mount Vesuvius is part of the Campanian volcanic arc, along with Campi Flegrei, Mount Epomeo, a number of submerged volcanoes in the south sea, and Monte Amiata in Tuscany. The AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius led to the destruction of the great Roman cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. The eruption was responsible for a death toll of over 25,000 people.

Volcanic Eruptions of Mount Vesuvius:

Mount Vesuvius is famous for Avellino eruption in 1800 BC and repeated eruptions since 79 AD. The Avellino eruption of 1660 BC is believed to have destroyed several Bronze Age settlements. Mount Vesuvius has erupted repeatedly in AD 172, 203, 222, 303, 379, 472, 512, 536, 685, 787, 860, 900, 968, 991, 999, 1006, 1037, 1049, 1073, 1139, 1150, 1270, 1347 and 1500. On record is the 1631 eruption in the 17th century and at least six eruptions all through the 18th century. In more recent times, the volcano has erupted in 1872, 1906, 1929 and 1944. The 79 AD eruption was by far the largest and most destructive. The eruptions on record show a marked variation in severity. History reveals that eruptions from Vesuvius used to spew blankets of ash as far as Istanbul.

The history of Mount Vesuvius dates back 25,000 years ago. The mountain is the result of a series of eruptions; explosive interspersed eruptions, as well as large plinian eruptions. The Basal Pumice eruption resulted in the formation of the Somma caldera, about 18,300 years ago. Following this was the Green Pumice or Pomici Verdoline eruption and the Mercato ir Pomici Gemelle eruption. In May 2001, archaeologists discovered the ruins of a settlement, whose people seemed to have hastily abandoned the region. Study of the remnants under pumice and ash, near Nola, led to the discovery of pyroclastic surge deposits in Naples.

The site has been described at various times in history as:

• Perpendicular cliff, shrouded by haze or dry fog, which was the encampment ground of gladiator Spartacus in 73 BC.
• A crater on a craggy peak, decorated with gardens and vineyards in the famous painting 'Bacchus and Vesuvius'.
• Crater of fire, by the Greek historian Strabo in chapter 4 of Geographica Book V.

Mount Vesuvius Today:

Mount Vesuvius was originally a site inhabited by a substantial population, renowned for agricultural fertility. Each of its eruptions have caused widespread destruction around the Bay of Naples. The nature of its volcanic activity has been immortalized in the biography of Nero by Suetonius and Tacitus in Annales. The volcano has been quiescent since 8 March 1944. The region around the volcano is densely populated today. The demarcation of a zona rosa or red zone is done on the basis of calculated risk from probable, future pyroclastic flows. The volcano is being monitored by Osservatorio Vesuvio, an observatory comprising extensive seismic and gravimetric station networks, GPS based geodetic and satellite-based aperture radar equipment. On 5 June 1995, the region around Vesuvius was declared a national park.