**8. Conclusion**

The Somma-Vesuvius volcano is a composite stratovolcano with a complex history of caldera evolution. A sort of stratigraphic cyclicity is envisaged which suggests the style of the next eruption as Plinian. Anyhow, on the basis of size, it is very difficult to select an "ad-hoc" Plinian eruption which could be selected between Avellino, AD 79, AD 472, and AD 1631 eruptions. There is still a lot of

**101**

**Figure 31.**

Younger wrote his letter.

*Volcanic hazard and risk at Somma-Vesuvius.*

**Acknowledgements**

*The Somma-Vesuvius Activity with a Focus to the AD 79 Eruption: Hazard and Risk*

confusion on this issue. Hazard and risk are very high due to the demographic increase around Vesuvius in the last 40 years (**Figure 30**). One of the last research [11] suggests that Napoli Municipality could be hit by a Plinian eruption so that hazard and risk would increase. From the volcano history, it can be noted that people have always forgotten the hazard and risk that Vesuvius pose. On the other hand, the Spanish have warned the population (1631 eruption) of the Hazard of Vesuvius Portici marble label (**Figure 21**). This protective action together with the construction of the Vesuvian Observatory indicates how Spanish were sensible about the behavior of the volcano. The AD 79 has been very well studied so that would be easy (cartoon model) for students understand the volcanic hazard. The volcanic section of the AD 79 drawn by Sigurdsson et al. [20] is still valid as a model to present how the AD 79 eruption has evolved and in parallel how Pliny the

Harvey Belkin (USGS) is thanked for looking to the English style. Karoly Nemeth is thanked for a pretty and thoughtful review of the manuscript.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89989*

*The Somma-Vesuvius Activity with a Focus to the AD 79 Eruption: Hazard and Risk DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89989*

**Figure 31.**

*Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions*

**100**

(**Figure 31**).

**Figure 30.**

**8. Conclusion**

sites cover the whole territory, and agricultural areas are much reduced. A hazard map was obtained encompassing both the fall products possible hazard and the pyroclastic density current areas (drawn after Protezione Civile Italiana)

*1996 topographic map and a diagram pointing the increase of population in recent years (1996, unpublished* 

*data). From 1996 up to now, the increase of population has not stopped.*

The Somma-Vesuvius volcano is a composite stratovolcano with a complex history of caldera evolution. A sort of stratigraphic cyclicity is envisaged which suggests the style of the next eruption as Plinian. Anyhow, on the basis of size, it is very difficult to select an "ad-hoc" Plinian eruption which could be selected between Avellino, AD 79, AD 472, and AD 1631 eruptions. There is still a lot of

*Volcanic hazard and risk at Somma-Vesuvius.*

confusion on this issue. Hazard and risk are very high due to the demographic increase around Vesuvius in the last 40 years (**Figure 30**). One of the last research [11] suggests that Napoli Municipality could be hit by a Plinian eruption so that hazard and risk would increase. From the volcano history, it can be noted that people have always forgotten the hazard and risk that Vesuvius pose. On the other hand, the Spanish have warned the population (1631 eruption) of the Hazard of Vesuvius Portici marble label (**Figure 21**). This protective action together with the construction of the Vesuvian Observatory indicates how Spanish were sensible about the behavior of the volcano. The AD 79 has been very well studied so that would be easy (cartoon model) for students understand the volcanic hazard. The volcanic section of the AD 79 drawn by Sigurdsson et al. [20] is still valid as a model to present how the AD 79 eruption has evolved and in parallel how Pliny the Younger wrote his letter.

## **Acknowledgements**

Harvey Belkin (USGS) is thanked for looking to the English style. Karoly Nemeth is thanked for a pretty and thoughtful review of the manuscript.

*Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions*
