Volcano Called Mount Vesuvius

Introduction:

Mount Vesuvius is one of history’s most recognizable Volcanoes, as each of its eruptions have gone down as a significant event in geologic history. The events that transpired during and after these eruptions have shaped the way scientists and people view the sheer power that these volcanoes possessed. This report will take a look at Vesuvius’ most prolific eruption in 79 AD. The geologic setting of the mountain, precursor activity, and the impact the eruption had on the surrounding populations and towns will all be detailed. Along with these details, this report will also look at the further history of Vesuvius’s explosive past by detailing its eruption cycle. Finally, the current state of Vesuvius and the possible danger the current population living near the mountain could face should it erupt explosively again.

1. Background on Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius or Somma-Vesuvius, is located in the Province of Naples in Western Italy. It is part of an area known as the Campainian volcanic arc, which is a chain of volcanoes that formed over a subduction zone. (Geology.com) Subduction zones are regions in the Earth’s crust where two plates, in this case, the African and Eurasian plates converge and push one another. This push forces the lighter plate further into the Earth’s bowels, leading to that rock melting under higher pressure and temperatures, thus forming Magma. This Magma rises to the surface, forming volcanoes such as Vesuvius and it’s counterparts along the Campanian arc. (USGS Earthquake glossary).

The actual eruption of Vesuvius was of the explosive nature. The catastrophic eruption in 79 AD took place in a period that is estimated to have unfolded over 25 hours and took place in two stages (Museum tim...

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...uvius was that of Herculeam. Initially, the town escaped any major damage from ash fall as it was upwind from the volcano. (Natural history of Pompeii) Unlike Pompeii, Herculeam’s demise was much more swift and potent.

The end of Herculeam would come at the mercy of red hot mudflows and steam spills from the volcano. As at around 1 AM on August 25th, this combination would reach Herculeam and scorch everything in it’s way. (Museum timeline) Later on, the initial pyroclastic flows that failed to reach Pompeii would in fact reach Herculeam, burning anyone who survived the initial mudflow alive. (BBC)

The entire reigion was obliterated. What was one a thriving cluster of towns were reduced to shambles. People, animals, vegetation are all wiped out. Herculeam was scorched and Pompeii was buried to the point where all that remained were the very highest of walls.