Landscape response to the deposition of airfall pyroclastics from large explosive eruptions: An example from the Campanian area (Southern Italy)

We present in this work data about a peculiar type of alluvial fans formed exclusively by volcaniclastic material from large explosive eruptions. Each alluvial fan results formed by the superimposition of several sedimentary bodies, each of them formed by quite homogeneous volcaniclastic material. L ithological analyses allow us to correlate each sedimentary body with the e mplacement of pyroclastics from Phlegrean Fields or Somma-Vesuvius. The dev elopment of these alluvial fans is controlled by three main factors: area o f dispersion of pyroclastics, morphological features of the supplying basin (i.e. mean slopes and area) and climate. Finally, we present an assessment of the minimum time needed for the complete remobilization of pyroclastics of Pomici di Base and Greenish eruptions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.