Phlegraean Fields
The Phlegraean Fields ( ; , from Greek , "to burn") is a large volcano situated to the west of Naples, Italy. It was declared a regional park in 2003. The area of the caldera consists of 24 craters and volcanic edifices; most of them lie under water. Hydrothermal activity can be observed at Lucrino, Agnano and the town of Pozzuoli. There are also effusive gaseous manifestations in the Solfatara crater, the mythological home of the Roman god of fire, Vulcan. This area is monitored by the Vesuvius Observatory. The area also features bradyseismic phenomena, which are most evident at the Macellum  of Pozzuoli (misidentified as a temple of Serapis): bands of boreholes left by marine molluscs on marble columns show that the level of the site in relation to sea level has varied. Geological phases. Three geological phases or periods are recognised and distinguished. More recent history. The caldera, which now is essentially at ground level, is accessible on foot. It contains many fumaroles, from which steam can be seen issuing, and over 150 pools (at the last count) of boiling mud. Several subsidiary cones and tuff craters lie within the caldera. One of these craters is filled by Lake Avernus . In 1538, an eight-day eruption in the area deposited enough material to create a new hill, Monte Nuovo. It has risen about from ground level since 1970. The volcanic island of Ischia suffered three destructive earthquakes in 1828, 1881 and 1883, the most destructive occurring in 1883. It had a magnitude of 4.2–5.2, but caused catastrophic shaking assigned XI ("Extreme") on the MCS scale. Extreme damage was reported on the island and over 2,000 residents perished. At present, the Phlegraean Fields area comprises the Naples districts of Agnano and Fuorigrotta, the area of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida, Quarto , the Phlegrean Islands (Ischia, Procida and Vivara). A 2009 journal article stated that inflation of the caldera centre near Pozzuoli might presage an eruptive event within decades. In 2012 the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program planned to drill below the earth's surface near Pompeii, in order to monitor the massive molten rock chamber below and provide early warning of any eruption. Local scientists are worried that such drilling could itself initiate an eruption or earthquake. In 2010 the Naples city council halted the drilling project. Programme scientists said the drilling was no different from industrial drilling in the area . The newly elected mayor allowed the project to go forward. A Reuters article emphasized that the area could produce a "super volcano" that might kill millions. A study from the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia shows that the volcanic unrest of the Campi Flegrei caldera from January 2012 to June 2013 was characterised by rapid ground uplift of about , with a peak rate of about per month during December 2012. It adds that from 1985 to 2011 the dynamics of ground uplift were mostly linked to the caldera's hydrothermal system, and that this relation broke down in 2012 . The driving mechanism of the ground uplift changed to periodical emplacement of magma within a flat sill-shaped magmatic reservoir about in depth, south from the port of Pozzuoli. In December 2016, activity became so high that an eruption was feared. In May 2017 a new study by University College London and the Vesuvius Observatory published in "Nature Communications" revealed that an eruption might be closer than previously thought. The study found that the geographical unrest since the 1950s has a cumulative effect, causing a build-up of energy in the crust and making the volcano more susceptible to eruption . On 21 August 2017 there was a magnitude 4 earthquake on the western edge of the Campi Flegrei area. Two people were killed and many more people injured in Casamicciola on the northern coast of the island of Ischia, which is south of the epicentre. A February 2020 status report indicated that inflation around Pozzuoli continues at steady rates with a maximum average of 0.7 cm per month since July 2017. Gas emissions and fumarole temperatures did not change significantly. On Sunday April 26, 2020, a moderate earthquake swarm hit Campi Flegrei caldera, which included about 34 earthquakes ranging between  magnitude 0 and magnitude 3.1 with the swarm centered around the port city of Pozzuoli. The strongest quake in the Earthquake sequence was a magnitude 3.1, which is the strongest earthquake in the caldera going back to the last major period of unrest and rapid uplift in 1982-1984. However, no new fumaroles were reported. In its weekly bulletin of April 6 2021, the Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) reported that the Rione Terra (RITE) GPS tiltmeter had an average uplift rate of 13mm per month +/- 2mm. The strongest quake since March 29 2021  had been of magnitude 2.2, and the RITE GPS station had measured 72.5cm of uplift since January 2011. Future hazards. While Campi Flegrei has seen more unrest lately, an eruption in the area is unlikely to happen in the near future. Though a large-scale eruption like the one that occurred 39,000 years ago is very unlikely, a new caldera-forming eruption in the area is a possibility. Considering the unrest seen at the port of Pozzuoli, it is probable that the next eruption will take place within that region of the caldera. Wine. Italian wine, both red and  white, under the Campi Flegrei DOC appellation comes from this area. Grapes destined for DOC production must be harvested up to a maximum yield of 12 tonnes/hectare for red grape varieties, and 13 tonnes/ha for white grape varieties. The finished wines need to be fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 11.5% for reds and 10.5% for whites. While most Campi Flegrei wines are blends, varietal wines can be made from individual varieties, provided the variety used comprises at least 90% of the blend and the wine is fermented to at least 12% alcohol for reds and 11 % for whites. Red Campi Flegrei is a blend of 50–70% Piedirosso, 10–30% Aglianico and/or Sciascinoso and up to 10% of other local (both red and white) grape varieties. The whites are composed of 50–70% Falanghina, 10–30% Biancolella and/or Coda di Volpe, with up to 30% of other local white grape varieties. Cultural importance. Campi Flegrei has had strategic and cultural importance.