Continuous record of the gravity changes at Mt. Vesuvius

Abstract

High precision relative and absolute gravity measurements are periodically carried out at Mt. Vesuvius (Southern Italy) to monitor the changes in the gravity field caused by the internal dynamics of the volcano. Moreover, a recording gravity station is also operating at the Osservatorio Vesuviano (Old Building) aimed at measuring in continuous mode the time variations of the gravity and the tidal parameters, possibly due to changes in the physical state of the volcano. The analysis carried out on an hourly data set spanning the 1994-1996 time interval and a comparison of the results with those previously obtained, exhibit a change in the tidal parameters which occurred between 1991 and 1994. A gravity decrease of about 60 µGal was observed during the same time interval in the same area. Consistent with relative and absolute gravity observations, no significant variations have been detected since 1994 in the tidal parameters and gravity residuals.