Mount Vesuvius, Italy: Map, Facts, Eruption Pictures, Pompeii Article by Jessica Ball Mount Vesuvius Introduction Vesuvius is the only active volcano in mainland Europe, and has produced some of the continent's largest volcanic eruptions. Located on Italy's west coast, it overlooks the Bay and City of Naples and sits in the crater of the ancient Somma volcano. Vesuvius is most famous for the 79 AD eruption which destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Though the volcano's last eruption was in 1944, it still represents a great danger to the cities that surround it, especially the busy metropolis of Naples. Map: Where is Vesuvius? Map showing the location of Mount Vesuvius on the west coast of Italy. Map by Geology.com and MapResources. Nearby Volcanoes: Etna Stromboli Mount Vesuvius: Plate Tectonic Setting Vesuvius is part of the Campanian volcanic arc, a line of volcanoes that formed over a subduction zone created by the convergence of the African and Eurasian plates.

This subduction zone stretches the length of the Italian peninsula, and is also the source of other volcanoes like Mount Etna , the Phlegraean Fields (Campi Flegrei), Vulcano, and Stromboli. Under Vesuvius, the lower part of the subducting slab has torn and detached from the upper part to form what is called a "slab window". This makes Vesuvius' rocks slightly different chemically from the rocks erupted from the other Campanian volcanoes. Simplified plate tectonics cross section (A to B) Simplified plate tectonics cross-section showing how Mount Vesuvius is located above a subduction zone formed where the African plate descends beneath Italy. Magma produced from the melting African plate creates the large, violently explosive volcanoes of the Italian Peninsula. Mount Vesuvius: Eruption History Mount Vesuvius has experienced eight major eruptions in the last 17,000 years. The 79 AD eruption is one of the most well known ancient eruptions in the world, and may have killed more than 16,000 people.

Ash, mud and rocks from this eruption buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pompeii is famous for the casts the hot ash formed around victims of the eruptions. The unfortunate people suffocated on ash in the air, which then covered them and preserved amazing details of their clothing and faces. Starting in 1631, Vesuvius entered a period of steady volcanic activity, including lava flows and eruptions of ash and mud. Violent eruptions in the late 1700s, 1800s and early 1900s created more fissures, lava flows, and ash-and-gas explosions. These damaged or destroyed many towns around the volcano, and sometimes killed people; the eruption of 1906 had more than 100 casualties. The most recent eruption was in 1944 during World War II. It caused major problems for the newly-arrived Allied forces in Italy when ash and rocks from the eruption destroyed planes and forced evacuations at a nearby airbase. Vesuvius eruption (1944) A view of Naples at the height of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 1944.

A Melvin C. Shaffer photograph used with permission from Southern Methodist University CUL Digital Collections . Did You Know? The 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius is why volcanologists use "Plinian" to describe large volcanic eruption clouds. Pliny the Younger, a Roman historian who witnessed the 79 AD eruption, wrote the oldest surviving description of the tall, tree-shaped cloud that rose above the volcano. Modern volcanologists use the term to describe large-volume, violent eruptions that produce quickly-expanding clouds of rock, ash and gases which rise many miles into the atmosphere. Some more recent examples of Plinian eruptions include Mount St. Helens in 1980 and Pinatubo in 1990. Here is Pliny's description... "On 24 August, in the early afternoon, my mother drew [my uncle's] attention to a cloud of unusual size and appearance.

its general appearance can be best expressed as being like an umbrella pine, for it rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches, I imagine because it was thrust upwards by the first blast and then left unsupported as the pressure subsided, or else it was borne down by its own weight so that it spread out and gradually dispersed. Sometimes it looked white, sometimes blotched and dirty, according to the amount of soil and ashes it carried with it." About the Author Jessica Ball is a graduate student in the Department of Geology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Her concentration is in volcanology, and she is currently researching lava dome collapses and pyroclastic flows. Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the College of William and Mary, and worked for a year at the American Geological Institute in the Education/Outreach Program. She also writes the Magma Cum Laude blog , and in what spare time she has left, she enjoys rock climbing and playing various stringed instruments. Find it on Geology.com More from Geology.com Deepest Lake in the World: Lake Baikal in southern Russia is the deepest lake in the World.

Sliding Rocks Mystery: What causes these rocks to slide across a Death Valley playa? Titanite - also known as sphene, this mineral is a minor source of titanium and a minor gem. Strontium Titanate is a man- made diamond simulant with a fire much stronger than diamond. Shale Gas is natural gas trapped within shale. It is a growing source of US supply. Gold - An important metal for thousands of years - uses, prospecting, mining, production. Land Below Sea Level: Did you know that dozens of land locations are below sea level? Fancy Sapphires are gem corundums of any color other than red, blue or colorless. Picture of Mount Vesuvius and Naples Bay A panorama of the Gulf of Naples, Italy, showing the high population density and commerce. Mt. Vesuvius rests quietly in the background. Image © iStockphoto / Danilo Ascione. Facts About Mount Vesuvius Etna Stromboli Google Satellite Image of Mount Vesuvius Google Maps satellite image of Vesuvius. In this view you can clearly see the caldera, radial drainage on the volcano's flanks, the city of Naples and a portion of the Gulf of Naples.

You can use the control buttons in the upper left corner to zoom out for a broader view or in for more detail. This view clearly shows the density of vulnerable cultural and industrial development that surrounds Vesuvius. You can also use the "terrain" button in the upper right corner of the image to switch to a topographic map. View Larger Map Mount Vesuvius Geology and Hazards The cone known as Mount Vesuvius began growing in the caldera of the Mount Somma volcano, which last erupted about 17,000 years ago. Most rocks erupted from Vesuvius are andesite , an intermediate volcanic rock (about 53-63% silica). Andesite lava creates explosive eruptions on a variety of scales, which makes Vesuvius an especially dangerous and unpredictable volcano. Strombolian eruptions (explosions of magma from a pool in the volcano’s conduit) and lava flows from the summit and flank fissures are relatively small. Plinian eruptions (huge explosions that create columns of gas, ash and rock which can rise dozens of kilometers into the atmosphere) have a much greater reach, and have destroyed entire ancient cities near Vesuvius with huge ash falls and pyroclastic flows .

Vesuvius is currently quiet, with only minor seismic (earthquake) activity and outgassing from fumaroles in its summit crater, but more violent activity could resume in the future. Plaster casts: Victims of the 79 A.D. eruption Plaster casts of people who died in the city of Pompeii during the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. They were buried by the ashfall. Image: Garden of the Fugitives, This photo was taken by Lancevortex and is distributed under a GNU Free Documentation License . Ruins at the ancient city of Pompeii Brick columns stand among ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii. Image © iStockphoto / Evgeny Bortnikov.

More Vesuvius Information Global Volcanism Program | Vesuvius 08/1996 (BGVN 21:08) Ongoing sub-crater seismic activity 04/1997 (BGVN 22:04) Low seismicity prevails after March-May 1996 earthquake swarm 10/1999 (BGVN 24:10) 9 October seismic swarm includes an M ~ 3.5 event, the largest in 50 years Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted) June 1996 (BGVN 21:06) Cite this Report Seismicity during 1995-96 is the highest in the past 50 years The Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex is a central composite volcano formed by an older stratovolcano (Monte Somma) with a summit caldera partially filled by the composite cone of Vesuvius. The most noted eruption, in 79 A.D., destroyed the ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Since the explosive sub-Plinian eruption of 1631, Vesuvius has erupted with both Strombolian and mixed effusive-explosive styles. For the past three centuries the volcanic activity has mainly focused inside the Somma caldera but occasionally lava issued outside it (i.e., 1760 eruption). The last cycle of activity ended with the 1944 eruption. Since then, the volcano has been characterized by moderate seismicity and intra-crater fumarolic activity. The Osservatorio Vesuviano maintains an array of short-period seismographs (eight three-component and nine vertical-component instruments). Seismicity was monitored during 1995 and March-April 1996. The 1995-96 period was the most active of the past fifty years. Several hundred microearthqukes (M < 3.2) were recorded during 1995, many from sources within the volcanic edifice above sea level. An increase in strain release and in frequency of earthquakes was observed from August to October 1995. During this period 217 events were recorded.

Three of these earthquakes had M > 3.0 and were felt by the local population (~600,000 people): the first event (M 3.1, focal depth 3.1 km) occurred on 2 August; the second (M 3.2, focal depth 4.2 km) on 16 September, and the third (M 3.1, focal depth 3.3 km) on 24 September. During November 1995-February 1996 the seismicity decreased to <10 events/month, and the strongest earthquake was M 2.5. During March-April 1996, however, 296 earthquakes were recorded. A M 3.4 event at 2 km depth was the strongest recorded during the past fifty years. Seismic activity at Vesuvius decreased again after this event. Hypocenter locations for the past two years have clustered in a small volume below the crater area, no deeper than 6 km below sea level (figure 1). Focal mechanisms of relevant events suggested that the cause of seismicity was crustal rupture.

Harmonic tremor and monochromatic low-frequency events were not observed. No changes in ground deformation or fumarolic gas compositions were reported. Figure 1. Locations of seismic events at Vesuvius (1995-May 1996). All events have at least five P and one S picks (RMS <= 0.15 sec). Bars in cross-sections represent the errors on focal depths. Circle dimensions are proportional to event magnitudes. A Reuters news story noted that a geophysical experiment is planned at the end of June to obtain a tomographic image of the volcano. The report said that the experiment, a joint-venture of Swiss, French, and Italian scientists, includes a series of controlled explosions at 14 boreholes on the volcano's slopes and as far away as the Sorrento peninsula. The explosions will be monitored by a network of 250 seismic stations. In addition, a marine seismic prospecting survey will be carried out in the Bay of Naples to investigate the volcano's submarine flanks.

Information Contacts: Lucia Civetta, Francesca Bianco, Giuseppe Vilardo, and Mario Castellano, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Manzoni 249, 80123 Napoli, Italy (Email: bianco@osve.unina.it; vilardo@osve.unina.it; mario@osve.unina.it); Paul Holmes, Reuters News Service. August 1996 (BGVN 21:08) Cite this Report Ongoing sub-crater seismic activity Non-eruptive activity at the Mt. Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex is characterized by low seismicity both in terms of energy and numbers of events; very few episodes of intense seismicity occurred during the last twenty years. In the last three years, however, hundreds of earthquakes have been detected with magnitudes ranging from -0.4 up to 3.4. The plot of monthly seismic events (figure 2) shows the usual fluctuating pattern observed at Vesuvius. The energy release distribution (figure 2) has a sharp peak coinciding with the 1995-96 earthquakes; the strain release curve also recorded two clear steps at these times.

Figure 2. Monthly seismicity at Vesuvius during 1 Oct 1994 - 31 Aug 1996. The lower part of the figure shows the energy release histogram and the strain release curve. Courtesy of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. After the seismic crisis of March-April 1996 (BGVN 21:06), seismic activity decreased. During May-August 1996, the permanent seismic network of the Osservatorio Vesuviano recorded 266 microearthquakes, the strongest one had M 2.7. The events belonging to this sequence affected an extremely reduced volume below the crater area at shallow depth, with hypocenters rarely exceeding 6 kilometers below the sea. No changes in ground deformation or fumarolic gas composition were reported in the last field measurements.

Information Contacts: Lucia Civetta, Francesca Bianco, Giuseppe Vilardo, and Mario Castellano, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Manzoni 249, 80123 Napoli, Italy (Email: bianco@osve.unina.it; vilardo@osve.unina.it; mario@osve.unina.it). April 1997 (BGVN 22:04) Cite this Report Low seismicity prevails after March-May 1996 earthquake swarm During late 1996 through early 1997 Somma-Vesuvius remained volcanically quiet and characterized by low seismicity both in terms of energy and number of events. A few episodes of moderate seismic activity have occurred in the last twenty years. The crisis of March-May 1996, characterized by an M 3.4 event (BGVN 21:08) was followed by a significant decrease of the seismic activity (figure 3).

After the crisis, during June 1996-April 1997, 350 microearthquakes (maximum magnitude, 2.7) were recorded at the permanent seismic network of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. As has been typical in the past, foci appeared in a small volume below the crater area, rarely at depths below 6 km. Figure 3. Seismic activity at Vesuvius during the period 1 January 1996-30 April 1997, showing daily events (top), energy (histogram, bottom), and strain release (line, bottom). Courtesy of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. During January 1996-April 1997 the monthly temporal distribution of both earthquakes and their energy fluctuated, as had been the case in the past. The distribution of the cumulative strain release (figure 3) had its regular trend, disturbed only by the seismic crisis of March-May 1996. Both ground deformation and fumarolic gas composition data remained stable.

Information Contacts: Lucia Civetta, Francesca Bianco, Giuseppe Vilardo, and Mario Castellano, Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Manzoni 249, 80123 Napoli, Italy (Email: civetta@osve.unina.it; bianco@osve.unina.it; vilardo@osve.unina.it; mario@osve.unina.it). October 1999 (BGVN 24:10) Cite this Report 9 October seismic swarm includes an M ~ 3.5 event, the largest in 50 years At the beginning of October a small cluster of seismic events was recorded by the permanent seismic network of the Osservatorio Vesuviano (figure 4). The most energetic event of the sequence occurred at 0741 on 9 October, with a duration magnitude (MD) of 3.6 and a Wood Anderson equivalent magnitude (MWA) of 3.4. This event was located in the crater area at a depth of about 3 km below sea level, with a preliminary stress-drop of 164 bar and a preliminary moment magnitude of 3.3.

According to its MD value, this event was the most energetic of the last 50 years. Its fault plane solution showed a strike slip mechanism. All the events in this sequence were located below the crater area within the first 6 km of the upper crust, typical of seismicity at Vesuvius in recent years. Figure 4. Seismic activity at Vesuvius during 1 January-17 November 1999, showing the monthly number of events (histogram) and strain release (line). Courtesy of the Osservatorio Vesuviano. During the swarm no changes were observed in the temperature or the composition of the fumaroles, in the CO2 flux from soil, or in ground deformation. Both the temperature and the level of the water-table sampled around the volcano appeared unchanged. As of mid-November seismicity seems to have returned to normal low background levels (both in terms of energy and in number of events) that have characterized Vesuvius for several years.

Information Contacts: Lucia Civetta (civetta@osve.unina.it), Edoardo Del Pezzo (delpezzo@osve.unina.it), Francesca Bianco (bianco@osve.unina.it), Giuseppe Vilardo (vilardo@osve.unina.it), and Mario Castellano (castellano@osve.unina.it), Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124 Napoli, Italy (URL: Basic Data Pompeii - Ancient History - HISTORY.com Google Life in Pompeii Ever since the ancient Greeks settled in the area in the 8th century B.C., the region around Mount Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples attracted wealthy vacationers who wanted to soak up the sun and the scenery. By the turn of the first century A.D., the town of Pompeii, located about five miles from the mountain, was a flourishing resort for Rome’s most distinguished citizens. Elegant houses and elaborate villas lined the paved streets. Tourists, townspeople and slaves bustled in and out of small factories and artisans’ shops, taverns and cafes, and brothels and bathhouses.

People gathered in the 20,000-seat arena and lounged in the open-air squares and marketplaces. On the eve of that fateful eruption in 79 A.D., scholars estimate that there were about 20,000 people living in Pompeii and the surrounding region. Did You Know? Mount Vesuvius has not erupted since 1944, but it is still one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Experts believe that another Plinean eruption is due any day--an almost unfathomable catastrophe, since almost 3 million people live within 20 miles of the volcano’s crater. Mount Vesuvius The Vesuvius volcano did not form overnight, of course. In fact, scholars say that the mountain is hundreds of thousands of years old and had been erupting for generations. In about 1780 B.C., for example, an unusually violent eruption (known today as the “Avellino eruption”) shot millions of tons of superheated lava, ash and rocks about 22 miles into the sky. That prehistoric catastrophe destroyed almost every village, house and farm within 15 miles of the mountain.

But it was easy to overlook the mountain’s bad temper in such a pleasant, sunny spot. Even after a massive earthquake struck the Campania region in 63 A.D.–a quake that, scientists now understand, offered a warning rumble of the disaster to come–people still flocked to the shores of the Bay of Naples. Pompeii grew more crowded every year. 79 A.D. Sixteen years after that telltale earthquake, in August 79 A.D., Mount Vesuvius erupted again. The blast sent a plume of ashes, pumice and other rocks, and scorching-hot volcanic gases so high into the sky that people could see it for hundreds of miles around. (The writer Pliny the Younger, who watched the eruption from across the bay, compared this “cloud of unusual size and appearance” to a pine tree that “rose to a great height on a sort of trunk and then split off into branches”; today, geologists refer to this type of volcano as a “Plinean eruption.”) As it cooled, this tower of debris drifted to earth: first the fine-grained ash, then the lightweight chunks of pumice and other rocks.

It was terrifying–“I believed I was perishing with the world,” Pliny wrote, “and the world with me”–but not yet lethal: Most Pompeiians had plenty of time to flee. For those who stayed behind, however, conditions soon grew worse. As more and more ash fell, it clogged the air, making it difficult to breathe. Buildings collapsed. Then, a “pyroclastic surge”–a 100-miles-per-hour surge of superheated poison gas and pulverized rock–poured down the side of the mountain and swallowed everything and everyone in its path. By the time the Vesuvius eruption sputtered to an end the next day, Pompeii was buried under millions of tons of volcanic ash. About 2,000 people were dead. Some people drifted back to town in search of lost relatives or belongings, but there was not much left to find. Pompeii, along with the smaller neighboring towns of Stabiae and Herculaneum, was abandoned for centuries. Rediscovering Pompeii Pompeii remained mostly untouched until 1748, when a group of explorers looking for ancient artifacts arrived in Campania and began to dig.

They found that the ashes had acted as a marvelous preservative: Underneath all that dust, Pompeii was almost exactly as it had been 2,000 years before. Its buildings were intact. Skeletons were frozen right where they’d fallen. Everyday objects and household goods littered the streets. Later archaeologists even uncovered jars of preserved fruit and loaves of bread! Many scholars say that the excavation of Pompeii played a major role in the neo-Classical revival of the 18th century. Europe’s wealthiest and most fashionable families displayed art and reproductions of objects from the ruins, and drawings of Pompeii’s buildings helped shape the architectural trends of the era. For example, wealthy British families often built “Etruscan rooms” that mimicked those in Pompeiian villas. Today, the excavation of Pompeii has been going on for almost three centuries, and scholars and tourists remain just as fascinated by the city’s eerie ruins as they were in the 18th century.

Tags Vesuvius – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Understand[ edit ] View over the Bay of Naples Mount Vesuvius is perhaps best known for its eruption in Roman times (24 August 79 AD), described [1] by Pliny the younger, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. The eruption left a large crater that can still be visited today. It is a currently dormant volcano that occasionally emits streams of lava (last minor eruption in the 1950s; although its dormant state could be an indication of a build-up of pressure and a coming explosive eruption). At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly. Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples , Capri , Ischia , the edge of the Amalfi Coast and more. Be warned: Going there will make you sweat a lot and set you back about €15 (including private taxi up the hill).

Get in[ edit ] By public transport[ edit ] From Naples : There's a direct bus-line that leaves twice a day from Naples Central Station square and goes straight up to the visitor parking. It's run by one of the minor bus companies (not the city transport) and you might have a bit of a hard time finding it, but unless you have a prearranged group tour it's perfect. It runs on a timetable, so it's less capricious than the taxi service from Ercolano. Two-way ticket from Naples Station runs at € 13.50. Bus leaves at 09:20 and 10:35 at the Garibaldi station. From Ercolano : Take the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento-Naples line). From Naples buy tickets on the lower level of the Central Station aka Stazione Centrale a Piazza Garibaldi, or bus to Ercolano Scavi station in Herculaneum or the Pompei Scavi station. From there you have two choices: You can either wait for the local bus that costs around €8.70 return (from Pompeii, cheaper from Herculaneum).

The bus goes only around twice a day from Herculaneum - at 8:45 AM and 12:45 PM. It goes more often from Pompeii. Or you can use a private taxi company. From Ercolano Station you exit the station into a small Square. Over to the left is a private tourist center. Note: They offer a lift up and down the mountain for 10€ each person. For €18,00, they will offer a ticket with entry to the crater. Note: They are able to get special entry tickets for about €4.50, so when you purchase the package, they keep more than the €10. However, if you buy your own ticket to the crater, it's still €8.00 so you may as well pay them the €18.00. They will typically wait until a car (minibus) is full and leave then. They will agree with all people in the car to wait for all of you at the upper car park for 90 minutes. From the car park you'll have to hike up the last bit before you can actually see anything exciting.

They say the walk is about 800 meters long (optimistic in my view), going uphill most of the time and ending at the 1170 meters mark. Wear good walking shoes as the trail is covered with dust and rock pebbles. If you have missed the public bus, this will be your only option to get up to the mountain. The tourist information office is closed on sundays. You can also do a 6km hike to the summit along the winding roads. To do this you will need to take the local bus service ANM 5 or 176 from Ercolano to San Vitto. From there you will be able to walk to the summit. You can take in the views of the national park and enjoy the local wildlife. You will still need to pay the entrance fee when you arrive at the crater, but for the energetic ones it is a must! By Car[ edit ] You can get to the upper parking area, but be prepared to part with at least €5 for the parking fee. And it's a good idea to go there earlier in the morning to avoid the jams that may happen along the narrow road. Get around[ edit ] By Foot: Afraid, no choice.

Everyone has to walk up the last 500m steeply uphill. That includes busloads of German pensioners which on busy days will congest the path and give up half the way. Closed-in strong shoes are essential, as the path is dust and loose rock. You might want to get hold of one or two walking sticks provided. And there is a small entrance fee of €10 (adults)/€8 (students). By mountain bike: That's Amore, the leader cycling company, arrange on demand daily excursion along rough authorized paths of Vesuvius volcano opened for this company by the park. Can be possible ride short, easy or strong routes. Note: there are a couple of huts selling cheap and sometimes bizarrely inappropriate souvenirs and expensive drinks around the rim. Take a bottle of water with you to avoid these excessive charges. Weather: even on hot days you can get strong and chilly winds at the rim so take a lightweight fleece to wear at the top. The crater with its rising fumes. The different lava stones, changing colour as you walk uphill and around the crater. The view of the Bay of Naples and Pompeii in good weather.

The scarred landscape where the 1950's lava streams went downhill. The remains of the funicular railway built in 1870, and which operated until the volcano's last major eruption in 1944. The song Funiculì, Funiculà was written by composer Peppino Turco, to commemorate the opening of the railway. All the other tourists. Make a photograph that looks like you are going to parachute down the mountain. Enjoy the natural beauty of this worldly wonder. Buy[ edit ] Geological collection sets with rare original Vesuvius stones. These are spray painted fakes. Postcards with a helicopter view of the volcano (since you won't get into one to snap the shots yourself). Property on the lower slopes of Vesuvius is very attractively priced. Lacryma Christi wine is produced from grapes grown on the lower slopes of the volcano. Eat & Drink[ edit ] While there are no pubs or restaurants, there are several small shops up the last 500m or so to the crater and you can pick up snacks and a cool drink here but don't expect any meals, come well prepared!

Stay safe[ edit ] Vesuvius is an active volcano and may erupt any time in the near future. Over the last few centuries, Vesuvius has erupted at intervals ranging from 18 months to 7½ years, making the current lull the longest in 500 years. Its lack of eruption may merely indicate a build-up of pressure, which may result in a more explosive next eruption, posing a lethal hazard to over 500,000 residents living in the same place that got destroyed in 79 A.D. Listen to local authorities if there is any news about the state of Vesuvius, and do not wander any further than the trails go. Go next[ edit ] Combine the trip to Vesuvius with visiting Herculaneum or Pompeii afterwards to make more of the day. This city travel guide to Vesuvius is an outline and needs more content. It has a template , but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow !

Volcanologist Bill McGuire on the dangers of Vesuvius | Education | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close Out of the blue, and for no immediately obvious reason, the terrible fate of the Roman city of Pompeii once again occupies centre stage. Still 76 years short of the 2000th anniversary of the burial of the town beneath a thick shroud of ash and debris from local volcano Vesuvius, the recent bestselling novel Pompeii by Robert Harris is about to be joined by a BBC docudrama. Pompeii - The Last Day records the countdown to catastrophe from the perspective of a Patrician uncle and his young nephew, known to history as Roman men of letters Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. Just 17 at the time, the younger Pliny entered the annals of volcanology by providing, in his letters to Tacitus, the first ever description of a volcanic eruption and its effects. Since excavations began in earnest in 1748, progressively exposing a city and its people captured in time as if in a series of cameo photographs, there has been continuing curiosity about the appalling events that began on August 24 in AD79 and ended a couple of days later.

Without doubt this is a reflection of the astonishing and unique snapshots of individuals and family groups, preserved forever in their excruciating death throes by accumulating ash, and subsequently reconstructed in plaster for our edification and wonder. A man propping himself on one arm, desperately trying to ease the pain of his excruciating burns; a mother, father and child, physically close but oblivious to one another - each wrapped up in terminal agony; a tethered dog, its body contorted beyond belief as it thrashes this way and that, half-mad from its terrible scalds. But why the vogue to revisit the particularly violent and unpleasant ends of Pompeii's residents now? Perhaps it's because those living in the region's packed towns and cities are once again starting to look towards the mountain with concern and trepidation. Vesuvius has a rather chequered eruptive history, at times rumbling away almost continuously for decades, at others standing utterly silent for centuries before blasting into life with dire consequences for those living on its flanks. The volcano is currently well into another of these rather ominous quiet periods, following years of activity ended by an eruption that contributed in 1944 to the general mayhem of wartime Italy .

Since then, the entire Bay of Naples region has been a hotbed of construction - much of it unplanned and illegal - that has hugely increased the number of people living in the danger zone of the volcano. As a result, an estimated 3 million people may be affected by the next eruption, with 600,000 or more shoehorned into the so-called la zona rossa under serious threat. In places here, population densities have reached 20 to 30,000 per square kilometre, even greater than those encountered on the packed island of Hong Kong. Having done little or nothing to restrict development in the danger zone over the past 60 years, the civil authorities are now beginning to worry and have spawned a scheme to persuade the residents of the 19 towns closest to the volcano, including Pompeii, to relocate. The plan, initiated last month, is intended eventually to reduce the population of the "red zone" by 20%, by offering $30,000 (£18,000) per family to move to a safer location. But is it too little, too late? It certainly seems so.

Few people have taken up the offer so far, nor are they likely to while the volcano remains silent. The problem is one of memory - both short and selective. Hardly any of those living in the immediate danger zone remember the last eruption in 1944 and those that do, look back not with fear and unease but with a sort of macho arrogance that can be summarised by the view: "We did not move then and we are not moving now." Even those who lost everything have forgotten just how destructive Vesuvius can be. This attitude can perhaps best be encapsulated by the fact that although the nearby town of San Sebastiano was destroyed in 1944, the new town has been reconstructed directly on top of the lava flow responsible for its demise. Clearly, current circumstances do not bode well for the future safety of those living on or close to the volcano. If the next eruption is comparable in scale and violence to that of 60 years ago, which killed 26 people, perhaps the region could take the resulting death and destruction in its stride. The trouble is, the next time Vesuvius comes to life the consequences could be far more devastating.

After the AD79 blast, smaller eruptions continued off and on before, in 1631, another catastrophic explosion once again devastated the towns and villages that had crept progressively up the flanks of the volcano over the previous millennium and a half. More than three and a half thousand people were roasted alive as pyroclastic flows and surges - hurricanes of molten ash, pumice and incandescent gas - hurtled down the volcano's sides, reaching the sea in minutes. No one can be certain of the scale and violence of the next Vesuvius eruption, but a blast comparable to that of 1631 is not an unreasonable scenario. To some extent, its size is likely to depend on how long the current period of repose lasts. An eruption next year, for example, is unlikely to be as destructive as one in the next century, following a couple of centuries of inactivity. Notwithstanding the recent attempts to lure away those residents most at risk, a Vesuvius emergency plan has existed for some time, with the aim of evacuating threatened towns and villages when the volcano once again shows signs of life.

Worryingly, the plan is bogged down in political intrigue and argument and has led to a serious polarisation of the local volcanological community, some of whom argue that it is poorly thought out and inadequate. The rapid and successful evacuation of 600,000 people would be an extraordinary logistical feat at the best of times. In the midst of a crisis, against a backdrop of a rumbling volcano and in the face of stoical resistance by the population, it would seem to be doomed to failure. Much will depend upon how much warning the monitoring scientists at the Vesuvius volcano observatory can give the civil authorities. Current plans assume two weeks, but this poses two serious questions. Firstly, will this be sufficient time to overcome the reluctance of the local population to leave and secondly, will Vesuvius allow such an intermission before it blows its top? Many with an interest in the problem think that on both counts the answer may be no. Critics point, in particular, to the absence of consideration of unforeseen breakdowns in communications and transport in a plan that ambitiously aims to evacuate more than 600,000 people by train, ferry and car in just seven days.

Furthermore, they claim, insufficient attention is paid to the likely reluctance of some people to move, particularly where one part of an extended family is offered refuge in Milan and another in Sicily. Of most concern, however, is the rapidity with which the evacuation plan will be activated. Too soon, and the absence of an eruption within a few weeks will lead to accusations of crying wolf and the return of sceptical residents. Too late, and the evacuation will take place against a background of accelerating activity that may well engender increasing panic and chaos, especially if Vesuvius decides - which it may well do - not to provide the 14 days respite that everyone is counting on. Unlike earthquakes, no volcano ever erupts without warning signs. The ground swells and earth tremors increase in size and number as fresh magma fights its way towards the surface. There is no question then that either the scientists keeping a careful watch on Vesuvius or the civil authorities responsible for the emergency evacuation plan will be caught entirely by surprise. The timetable they have set themselves, however, is dangerously tight and because of this the potential for a future Pompeiian catastrophe still exists.

Distinguishing the very early signs of activity that will build towards a major eruption, from a discrete period of elevated unrest that quickly disappears, is notoriously difficult. Prevarication for just a few days, in the hope that things will die down again, is likely to doom the plan to failure, leaving insufficient time to get everyone out and abandoning thousands to the volcano's wrath. Never to be seen again, perhaps, until the archaeologists of the next millennium begin to uncover their grisly finds. Ready to blow: Hot spots around the world It is notoriously difficult to make predictions about which volcano will be the next to explode, mainly because we aren't keeping an eye on most of them. More than 1,500 volcanoes have erupted since the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago, and all are likely to erupt again. Furthermore, although quiet since the ice retreated, an equal number may still have the potential to become violently active once again.

Of this total of 3,000 or so volcanoes perhaps only a couple of hundred are monitored by volcanologists at all, and maybe only a few dozen subjected to the level of surveillance necessary for us to have any chance of understanding what is going on beneath the surface from day to day. Ironically, many of the best monitored volcanoes, such as Mount Etna in Sicily or Kilauea on Hawaii, offer little or no serious threat to the people living on their flanks, while those volcanoes that threaten millions in developing countries are barely studied. With more than 500 million people now living in the danger zones around active and potentially active volcanoes, forecasting which will explode into life next is becoming increasingly critical. Time and time again, however, volcanologists have been caught out, which is not surprising when you consider that 12 of the 16 biggest eruptions of the past 200 years occurred at volcanoes that had never before erupted in recorded history. Nevertheless, there has been recent unrest at a number of volcanoes that have been quiet for decades or even centuries, which suggests that at least some of them can be expected to burst into life in the not too distant future.

The following might well be worth keeping an eye on: Dominica The numerous volcanoes located around this small island in the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles chain have lain dormant for perhaps as many as 28,000 years. But recent shallow earthquakes have raised concern, particularly as prehistoric eruptions happened on a gigantic scale. Taal Located on the Philippine island of Luzon, Taal is an active volcano in a giant, lake-filled crater formed in prehistoric times. In 1965, an eruption blasted out hurricane-velocity clouds of scalding steam, ash and mud, killing more than 200 people. The volcano has been restless since 1991, with increased numbers of earthquakes, rising lake temperatures and geysers of boiling mud. Yellowstone Over the past 2m years, Yellowstone in Wyoming has hosted three gigantic eruptions, each of which formed a giant crater, or caldera. Recently, a large swelling has been detected beneath Yellowstone lake, possibly reflecting an accumulation of steam that may blast a crater through the crust. The area has been closed to tourists.

Mammoth Lakes This part of northern California's Long Valley caldera has been particularly restless since 1980, increasing worries over a future eruption. Scientists at the Long Valley observatory stress that in any single year the chances of an eruption are small, but agree that recent earthquake swarms, ground swelling and releases of carbon dioxide increase the chances of an eruption in the near future. Three Sisters Sometime after 1996, the ground surface started to swell in this volcanic region of Oregon. By 2000, uplift had reached 10cm and swelling is continuing at about 2cm a year. Scientists interpret this as evidence of magma accumulation at around 6-7km depth and warn that continuation of uplift may lead to an eruption. La Palma Despite a period of quiescence since its last eruption in 1971, concerns remain over the stability of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on La Palma in the Canary Islands. During the previous eruption in 1949, the western flank of the volcano detached itself from the rest. Catastrophic collapse during a future eruption threatens to devastate the Atlantic rim with giant tsunami.

· Bill McGuire is Benfield Professor of Geophysical Hazards and director of the Benfield Hazard Research Centre at University College London. He worked as an adviser on Pompeii - The Last Day, which is to be shown at 9pm next Monday on BBC1. Vesuvius travel guide - Wikitravel Understand[ edit ] View over the Bay of Naples Mount Vesuvius is perhaps best known for its eruption in Roman times (24 August 79 AD), described by Pliny the younger , when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. The eruption left a large crater which has grown and shrunk with subsequent eruptions and this can still be visited today. It is a currently dormant volcano that occasionally emits streams of lava (the last eruption was in 1944; although its dormant state could be an indication of a build-up of pressure and a coming explosive eruption). At the top of the volcano is a crater rim that affords a view into the crater that still fumes slightly.

Besides that you will have (only on clear days, but the mountain is notoriously covered in fog or clouds) a stunning panorama overseeing the Bay of Naples, Naples , Capri , Ischia , the edge of the Amalfi Coast and more. Be warned: Going there will make you sweat a lot and set you back about €15 (including a private taxi up the hill). From Naples[ edit ] The quickest / cheapest way up is to take the Circumvesuviana railway (Sorrento line) to Ercolano (Scavi) then follow the Ercolano instructions, or Pompeii, where Vesuvio Express may also run from, Ercolano is closer though. You can buy tickets on the lower level of the Central Station aka Stazione Centrale a Piazza Garibaldi. Also as another option, you could bus to Ercolano Scavi station in Herculaneum or the Pompei Scavi station, but this will probably be slower. Alternatively, there's a direct bus-line that leaves twice a day from Naples Central Station square and goes straight up to the visitor parking.

It's run by one of the minor bus companies (not the city transport) and you might have a bit of a hard time finding it, but unless you have a pre-arranged group tour it's perfect. It runs on a timetable, so it's less capricious than the taxi service from Ercolano. Two-way ticket from Naples Station costs €13.50. Bus leaves at 09:20 and 10:35 at the Garibaldi station. From Ercolano[ edit ] At Ercolano, Vesuvio Express can take you the rest of the way, their office is on the left as you exit the station. They offer a minibus ride up and down the mountain for €10 each person. For €20, they will offer a ticket with entry to the crater. They will typically wait until a minibus is full and then leave. They will wait for all of you at the upper car park for 90 minutes, which is generally about right. From the car park you'll have to hike up the last bit before you can actually see anything exciting.

They say the walk is about 800m long, going uphill most of the time and ending at the 1170m mark. Wear good walking shoes as the trail is covered with dust and rock pebbles. If you like sticks and having something heavy to carry, don't forget to borrow a stick off one of the guys offering them on the trail. There is word on the Internet of a local bus and a handful of other options for getting up the volcano, however the tourist information office advises that the only method is Vesuvio Express. The tourist information office is closed on Sundays. You can also do a 6km hike to the summit along the winding roads. To do this you will need to take the local bus service ANM 5 or 176 from Ercolano to San Vitto. From there you will be able to walk to the summit. You can take in the views of the national park and enjoy the local wildlife. You will still need to pay the entrance fee when you arrive at the crater, but for the energetic ones it is a must! From Pompeii[ edit ] There is a bus running from Pompeii Scavi to Vesuvius. The ticket is €10.

The bus does not operate during the winter season. A small company organizes mini-bus trip to Vesuvius at the exit of the Pompeii Scavi train station. The ticket costs €20. The company claims to wait one and half hour at the top, but the driver may only allow one hour, which is very tight. It is advised to ask the organizer to confirm one and half hours duration in front of the bus driver. By car[ edit ] You can get to the upper parking area, but be prepared to part with at least €2.50 for the parking fee (in July 2016 the parking charge was €5). And it's a good idea to go there earlier in the morning to avoid the jams that may happen along the narrow road. There is a minibus taxi service from the car park charge point to the ticket office for €2 per person, return. Get around[ edit ] There are a couple of huts selling cheap and sometimes bizarrely inappropriate souvenirs and expensive drinks around the rim. Take a bottle of water with you to avoid these excessive charges. Weather: even on hot days you can get strong and chilly winds at the rim so take a lightweight fleece to wear at the top.

On foot[ edit ] Everyone has to walk steeply uphill the last 860m. That includes bus loads of tourists which, on busy days, will congest the path and give up halfway. Closed-in, strong shoes are essential, as the path is dust and loose rock. You might want to get hold of one or two walking sticks provided. And there is a small entrance fee of €10 (adults), €8 (students). By mountain bike[ edit ] That's Amore, the leader cycling company, arrange on demand daily excursion along rough authorized paths of Vesuvius volcano opened for this company by the park. Can be possible ride short, easy or strong routes. The crater with its rising fumes. The different lava stones, changing colour as you walk uphill and around the crater. The view of the Bay of Naples and Pompeii in good weather. The scarred landscape where the 1950's lava streams went downhill. The remains of the funicular railway built in 1870, and which operated until the volcano's last major eruption in 1944.

The song Funiculì, Funiculà was written by composer Peppino Turco, to commemorate the opening of the railway. All the other tourists. Make a photograph that looks like you are going to parachute down the mountain. Enjoy the natural beauty of this worldly wonder. Run if the ground starts shaking. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Geological collection sets with rare original Vesuvius stones. Postcards with a helicopter view of the volcano (since you won't get into one to snap the shots yourself). Property on the lower slopes of Vesuvius is very attractively priced. Lacryma Christi wine is produced from grapes grown on the lower slopes of the volcano. Eat & Drink[ edit ] While there are no pubs or restaurants, there are several small shops up the last 500m or so to the crater and you can pick up snacks and a cool drink here but don't expect any meals, come well prepared! Although if you buy a souvenir cup and you are all out we have some Magma. Stay safe[ edit ] Vesuvius is an active volcano and may erupt any time in the near future.

Over the last few centuries, Vesuvius has erupted at intervals ranging from 18 months to 7½ years, making the current lull the longest in 500 years. Its lack of eruption may merely indicate a build-up of pressure, which may result in a more explosive next eruption, posing a lethal hazard to over 500,000 residents living in the same place that got destroyed in 79AD. Listen to local authorities if there is any news about the state of Vesuvius, and do not wander any further than the trails go. Get out[ edit ] Combine the trip to Vesuvius with visiting Herculaneum or Pompeii afterwards to make more of the day.

Question: The volcano Vesuvius looks down on what?
Answer: Bay of Naples