The recent earthquake in L’Aquila (Italy) is apparently caused by a collision of tectonic plates in the Apennines. After the first quake, many more severe aftershocks followed. So it ‘messes’ in there in the Earth.
I wonder if there is now also an increased chance that Vesuvius, which lies on the same boundary between tectonic plates, will erupt again? Or are earthquakes and volcanic eruptions not related at all?
Answer
No, to date there is no scientific evidence that medium (as in L’Aquila) and major (as in Indonesia) earthquakes cause volcanic eruptions. Certainly the earthquake in L’Aquila will not have any effect on Vesuvius. They are roughly on the same plate boundary, but both are the result of completely different tectonic processes. The L’Aquila earthquake is related to shear faults in central Italy, while Vesuvius is related to subduction in southern Italy.
What is, is that volcanic eruptions are accompanied by small earthquakes. After all, the rising magma tears open the earth’s crust as it pushes upwards. And with each crack, energy is released like a small earthquake. Increased seismic activity around a volcano can therefore be used to predict an imminent eruption.
Answered by
Professor Manuel Sintubin
Tectonics Geodynamics Earthquake Geology Earthquake Archaeology
Old Market 13 3000 Leuven
https://www.kuleuven.be/
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