Reconstruction of volcano-tectonic processes in interplay with sedimentary deposition in the Gulf of Naples (Italy) using a seismoacoustic dataset

Abstract

The Campi Flegrei caldera (CFc) has been considered as one of the world's most active calderas, proven by recent episodes of unrest. As a future eruption could affect nearly 2.5 million people, understanding eruption mechanisms and dynamics is of paramount importance to reliably assess volcanic hazards and risks. In this thesis, the offshore sector of the CFc is investigated based on high-resolution multichannel reflection seismic data, including the first semi-3D multichannel seismic survey of a large collapse caldera. The main outcomes of the current thesis are presented in three novel and comprehensive evolutionary models addressing (1) a 3D reconstruction of the tectono-sedimentary variability in the Gulf of Naples half-graben with respect to volcanism during the past one million years, (2) the conceptual formation of the Campi Flegrei nested-caldera complex, and (3) the 3D post-caldera evolution of the CFc. These findings represent a significant advancement towards understanding the genesis and evolution of the CFc as well as the tectonic formation of the Gulf of Naples half-graben basin and its influence on volcanism.