PHLEGREAN FIELDS

Prefazione - Indice

Prefazione

The main objective of Subproject 3 of the Italian Geodynamic Project was that of promoting research in the field of attive volcanology aimed at the mitigation of volcanic hazard. The actions undertaken included the improvement of the permanent monitoring networks on attive volcanoes, and the sponsoring of research on eruptive mechanisms and in the field of volcanic hazard assessment.
Advancement in this last sector required, in tum, a deep revision of the previous basic knowledge on volcanic geology, stratigraphy and tectonics, as well as a careful reconstruction of the volcanic history. The obtainment of a new geological map at adequate scale of each attive volcanic area of I taly was one of the main obiettive of this research plano Considering that detailed geological maps had been recently published on Etna (1982) and on the Aeolian Islands volcanoes (1980), the main error I was concentrated on the attive volcanic areas of the neapolitan region (Phlegrean Fields, Vesuvius, Island of Ischia).
In the case of Phlegrean Fields and Vesuvius, the achievement of this obiettive has been greatly facilitated by the existence of a parallel and important research error I made by the AGIP-ENEL Joint Venture and aimed at the geothermal exploration of the two areas. The AGIP-ENEL programme included detailed geological mapping, geophysical investigation (gravimetric, aeromagnetic and geoelectric surveys) and exploratory drilling. A cooperation programme was established between AGIP-ENEL and the Geodynamic Project, and many of the geological and petrological investigations were carried out through the collaboration of researchers from AGIP and from the Department of Earth Science ofthe University of risa (A. Sbrana did most of the work while he was an AGIP's staff member).
This monograph illustrates the results of this important joint research error. It is accompanied by a new 1:15,000 geological and gravimetric map, that alone represents a marked improvement of the knowledge of the area (previous geological maps were those of A. Rittmann and coworkers, 1 :25,000 - 1950, and of the geological survey of Italy, 1:1OO,OOO - 1967).
The monograph summarizes all the results of the surface and subsurface geological, petrological and geophysical studies. A new volcanological and strutturaI model, more complete with respect to previous ones, is presented for the Phlegrean Fields. It provides, a sound base for more delailed sludies on the volcanic hazard assessment presently under progress. The results contained in Ihis monograph have already served during the severe seismic-inflation crisis that affected the Phlegrean Fields in the 1982-1984, and which has been described in a Special Issue (vol. 47, n. 2, 1984) of Bullettin Volcanologique. That issue contains also the description of the Phlegrean Fields monitoring system, as well as the preliminary results obtained on volcanic hazard assessment.
This is the reason why these two arguments have been not treated in the present monograph, which has therefore a mostly volcanological and struttural character.


Professor of Volcanology at the University of Pisa
Director of the Italian Geodynamic Project


FRANCO BARBERI