Italy - Bradyseism in the Flegrea Area

The site is located in the extended area of the Regional Park of Campi Flegrei, that approximately includes the area of the municipality of Pozzuoli, Bacoli, Monte di Procida and the Flegree islands (Ischia, Procida, Vivara) and the western areas of the municipality of Naples. The site Baia is located in the southern area of Campi Flegrei, along the inner western area of the bay of Naples. The site is positioned at sea level, at a distance of approximately 15 km west of Naples. The small Gaiola islet is located within the urban area of Naples, along the south eastern coast of Posillipo hill, facing the bay with the Vesuvio mountain behind. The area of Campi Flegrei, inlcudes the municipality of Pozzuoli (latitude 40° 29’ N; longitude 14° 7’ E), Bacoli, Monte di Procida and the Flegree Islands, the western areas of the municipality of Naples. The ancient town of Baia and the Gaiola islet in Naples, are typical rapresentatives sites of the worldwide known phenomenon of bradyseism, as the coastline of Roman age is actually at a depth of 10 m below the present day sea level, and the rests of the harbour structures and ruins of the same age are actually at a variable depth along the coast. The term bradyseism (from the greek bradus = slow and sism = movement) has been coined by Issel in 1883 to mean slow subsidence or uplift of the ground.