Vesuvius volcano

Volcanic activity at Vesuvius started about 400,000 years ago (Sbrana et al., 2022). Outcropping deposits all belong to the volcanic activity following the Campanian Ignimbrite (about 39,000 years ago). Dated to about 22,000 years ago, the Pomici di Base eruption is the major Plinian eruption that occurred at Vesuvius. Other major explosive eruptions followed, such as the Greenish Pumices Sub-Plinian eruption (about 20,000 years ago), and the Pomici di Mercato Plinian eruption (about 8,900 years ago). Activity during the last 4,000 years can been subdivided into four periods: 1) Proto -Vesuvius, between Plinian eruptions of Pomici di Avellino (about 4,000 years ago) and 79AD; 2) Ancient Vesuvius, between 79AD Plinian eruption (Sigurdsson et al., 1985) and 472AD Sub-Plinian eruption; 3) Medieval Vesuvius, from 472AD Sub-Plinian eruption and 1631 small-scale Plinian eruption (Rosi et al., 1993); 4) Present Vesuvius, between 1631 and 1944 eruptions. Medieval Vesuvius is characterized by lava flows from vents on the slopes of the Vesuvius cone, and of Strombolian and Violent Strombolian scoriae fallout (Principe et al., 2004). During Present Vesuvius period, the volcano passed from effusive and markedly Strombolian activity to episodes of violent Strombolian and Sub-Plinian eruptions with mixed effusive and explosive character (Arrighi et al., 2001). Since the last eruption in 1944, Vesuvius entered a period of eruptive rest.