GNSS network and volcanic deformation patterns: Somma-Vesuvius case study.

Somma-Vesuvius is known worldwide for the devastating Plinian eruption (79 AD) that destroyed Herculaneum and Pompeii. In this study provides an overview of the ground deformation patterns of the Somma–Vesuvius volcano from continuous GNSS observations. In the 2000–2022 time span, the GNSS time series allowed the continuous and accurate tracking of ground displacements of the volcanic area.

We processed the GNSS data using the Bernese GNSS software on a daily basis with the IGS final orbits and Earth rotation parameters. To obtain high-precision results, we processed all data collected from 2000 to 2022 using the same processing strategies: the updated products, and the most recent models.

As regards the results, we present the final daily position time series of the GNSS stations, their velocities, horizontal and vertical displacement patterns and strain maps.

A better knowledge of expected displacement patterns could be help in the location of monitoring sensors as well as in the design of a geodetic network. Therefore, we simulate the deformation of Somma-Vesuvius volcano due to some overpressure sources by means of a finite element 3D code. We modelled the structural heterogeneity in terms of dynamic elastic parameters retrieved from previous seismic tomography and gravity studies. Instead, the topography of the volcano retrieved from a resolution digital terrain model.