Caldera resurgence and the case-history of Campi Flegrei

Large calderas formed by explosive eruption are often characterized by a structural uplift of the caldera floor that has been named resurgent dome or block. The analysis of recent unrest at several calderas suggests that the resurgent dome is likely formed by the intrusion of magma at shallow depth below the light caldera infill. Campi Flegrei is an active volcano considered the highest risk volcano in Italy and Europe and has been in a state of unrest in the last 70 years. The analysis of the past volcanological history point to an unrest localized in a central resurgent block. Different or paired interpretations on the current unrest suggest either an intrusion of magma at shallow depth (3-5 km) or a deformation governed by the poro-elastic response of a shallow hydrothermal system to changes in fluid pressure and temperature. The invariance of the shape of the deformation, as well as the diffuse degassing of the Solfatara area, hint that the unrest is related with the uplift of the resurgent block driven by magma intrusion at shallow depth.