An application of hyperspectral PRISMA dataset to characterize the Solfa-tara crater, Southern Italy
Abstract
The Campi Flegrei area (CF) is a highly significant site for scientific investigation due to its dual importance in both Earth and Planetary Sciences. On the one hand, from a natural hazard perspective, CF is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes on Earth because of its proximity to a densely populated urban area—the Neapolitan district, which hosts approximately three million people living between CF, Vesuvius, and Ischia. On the other hand, from a planetary science viewpoint, the high-temperature geothermal environment of the Solfatara crater serves as a terrestrial analogue to early rocky bodies within the Solar System and thus represents a prime target for astrobiological research. As part of a comprehensive site characterization, we present preliminary results using PRISMA data for the mineralogical mapping of acidic surface deposits in the Solfatara crater and the remote detection of fumarolic gases. Two PRISMA datasets were analyzed: one acquired before and one after the most significant earthquake in the area in the past 40 years, which occurred on 27 September 2023. Our initial findings reveal some variations in carbon dioxide emissions from the fumarolic field.