VESUVIUS: The making of a catastrophe

GVES, P.zza Matteotti, CP418, 80133 Napoli, Italy

Vesuvius is a volcano situated in the Bay of Naples, which in 79 and 1631 destroyed Pompeii and other surrounding towns. Vesuvius is currently surrounded by over 3 million people and is preparing for its next explosive eruption which with a very high probability will occur this century. Unless the population and territory are prepared for the next activity of the volcano, the human and environmental consequences will be dramatic.

Vesuvius is an emblem of all forms of wholesale death, the deluge, the great conflagration called by Leopardi the sterminator Vesevo, but also of survival and human persistence where the nature run amok also makes culture, makes artifacts, by murdering, petrifying history.

The Vesuvius Problem

Hic est pampineis viridis modo Vesbius umbris, presserat hic madidos nobilis uva lacus: hac iuga, quam Nysae colles plus Bacchus amavit, hoc super Satyri monte dedere choros. Haec Veneris sedes, Lacedaemone gratior illi, hic locus Herculeo nomine clarus erat. Cuncta iacent flammis et tristi mersa favilla: nec superi vellent hoc licuisse sibi. [This is Vesuvius, until recently green with wine leaves where the celebrated grapes filled the wet vats. These mountains Bacchus preferred more than the hills of his native Nysa, this is where the satyrs performed their dances. Here was the city of Venus [Pompeii] that she preferred over Sparta, and the city that was named after the glory of Hercules [Herculaneum]. Now everything is abeyantly buried from flames and gloomy ash: even the gods would not have permitted such a destruction.] M. Valerii Martialis (A.D. 87).

Cultural Activities on the Territory (Attivita' culturali nell'territorio)

Nell'insegnamento il piu' grave dei pericoli e' quello di perdere i contatti con la realta'. Allora, invece delle spighe di grani, no si ha che della paglia, la "paglia delle parole". J. Payot.

Books on Volcanic Risk Education and Physical Modeling of Eruption Processes (Libri sul rischio Vesuvio)

Global Volcanic Simulator (Simulatore Vulcanico Globale)

Nature and Nature's Laws lay hid in night: God said, Let Newton be! and all was light. Alexander Pope (1688-1744).

An important scientific innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents. What does happen is that its opponents gradually die out and that the growing generation is familiarized with the idea from the beginning. Max Planck (1858-1947).

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