Evidence for the buried rim of Campi Flegrei caldera from 3‐d active seismic imaging

An extended marine, active seismic survey has been performed on September, 2001 in the gulfs of Naples and Pozzuoli by recording about 5000 shots at a network of 62 sea bottom and 72 on shore seismographs. 3‐D images of the shallow caldera structure are obtained from the tomographic inversion of about 77000 first P arrival times using the Benz et al. [1996] tomographic technique. The buried rim of the Campi Flegrei caldera is clearly detected at about 800–2000 m depth, as an anular high P‐velocity and high density body. It has a diameter of about 8–12 km and a height of 1–2 km. According to stratigraphic and sonic log data from deep boreholes and tomographic P velocities, the rim is likely formed by solidified lavas and/or tuffs with interbedded lava. This study confirms the existence for a depressed limestone basement beneath the caldera at less than 4 km depth, while no evidence are found for shallower magmatic bodies.