Validating gas dispersion modelling at La Solfatara (Campi Flegrei, South Italy)

Abstract

Probabilistic hazard assessments of volcanic gases need to account for the natural variability associated to aspects such as weather conditions, source location, emission rate, and gas species. In order to quantitatively carry out these assessments, computational tools for gas dispersal need to be validated to demonstrate the reliability of the model results. Here we provide an exemplificative gas dispersal model validation at La Solfatara (a maar crater within Campi Flegrei caldera) which hosts one of the largest and hazardous fumarolic sites of the world, by using a workflow designed for automating the simulation strategy for probabilistic gas hazard assessments. This represents the first fundamental step towards gas hazard quantification in the area.