Tomomorphometry of the Somma-Vesuvius volcano (Italy)

Abstract

A tomomorphometric analysis of the Somma-Vesuvius topography is presented. This consists in extracting horizontal cross sections at different altitudes, and in determining some morphometric parameters: radius of the circle with a surface area equal to the cross section, circularity, ratio between the major and minor axis of the best fitting ellipse, orientation a of the ellipse major axis, and the x-y centroid. The Somma includes three portions: the apron zone, the flanks, and the summit caldera boundary. Between 225 m and 525 m, a is 50 –60 . Between 600 m and 775 m, a is 130 –135 . These are the preferred strike of the eruptive fissures affecting the northwestern Somma flanks, the faults affecting the whole edifice, the nodal planes from local earthquakes. The Somma activity developed along a NE-SW structural discontinuity, whereas the post-caldera activity concentrated along a NW-SE striking structure. Somma activity migrates from SE to NW.