Eruptions, earthquakes and geothermal resources at Campi Flegrei and Ischia

Abstract

The volcanic activity of Campi Flegrei and Ischia ranges between 150 ka and the present. The last eruption at Ischia occurred in 1302 CE, and that in Campi Flegrei in 1538. Eruptions at Ischia were more frequent during Greek and Roman times, whereas Campi Flegrei was more active between 5000 and 3000 a BP. The use of thermal baths flourished at Campi Flegrei during Roman and the Middle Age, and balneo-therapy became a popular remedy that rivalled with the activity of the Salerno school of medicine. All this activity came to an end with the eruption of Monte Nuovo in 1538, that, although there was a modest magnitude, it caused a strong commotion and altered the state of springs for long times. Soon after the eruption of Monte Nuovo, a calabrian physician, Giulio Iasolino (1588), wrote a treatise named “De Rimedi Naturali che sono nell'Isola di Pithecusa; hoggi detta Ischia”, enumerating the springs of Ischia and describing their curative properties. Since then, the thermal springs of Ischia have slow became renown firstly in the kingdom of Naples and subsequently in Italy. Volcanic activity and earthquakes have strongly influenced the exploitation of the geothermal resources and the fears of possible eruptions has affected for long time the attitude of people against the benefits resulting from it.