Integrative Natural History of Mount Vesuvius & the Gulf of Naples, Part 5: Concerning Slopes and Sea Haze | Campania, Italy
Taken along the footpath to Vesuvius' Gran Cono summit. Facing south-southeastward.
Ah, that Mediterranean haze. It's the product of the local atmosphere's high aerosol (suspended particle) count. That in turn can be due to various factors, including the automotive and urban pollution no doubt present this close to the Neapolitan megalopolis. But the main cause reportedly is dust blown northward from the Sahara Desert. The grand result of all these tiny floating bits of matter is the region's milky, misty, opalescent air.
In the left foreground we see a small stretch of the volcano's relatively steep western flank. On the Gran Cono, rocks and pumice shards generally have an angle of repose of about 30 degrees from horizontal. According to my own highly sophisticated measurement technology—a plastic protractor pressed against my PC screen—the lower slope is almost exactly that, with the upper portion being up to 40 degrees or so.
Far far beyond that crunchy, crumbly surface lies the city of Castellammare di Stabia, facing the Gulf of Naples. The Pompeii archaeological complex is also partially visible, I think, at far left behind the upper section of the slope.
The high ground on the horizon is the eastern side of the Sorrento Peninsula. It's composed of Mesozoic-era limestones with some Quaternary pyroclastic deposits wafted in from you-know-where.
Speaking of slopes, if you've ever driven around the Sorrento area, you know how vertiginous its peninsula's hillsides are in many places. With all those hairpin turns and tight bends around projecting masses of rock, it's not a good place for drivers to take their eyes off the road.
The other photos and descriptions of this series can be found in my Integrative Natural History of Mount Vesuvius & the Gulf of Naples album.
Integrative Natural History of Mount Vesuvius & the Gulf of Naples, Part 5: Concerning Slopes and Sea Haze | Campania, Italy
Taken along the footpath to Vesuvius' Gran Cono summit. Facing south-southeastward.
Ah, that Mediterranean haze. It's the product of the local atmosphere's high aerosol (suspended particle) count. That in turn can be due to various factors, including the automotive and urban pollution no doubt present this close to the Neapolitan megalopolis. But the main cause reportedly is dust blown northward from the Sahara Desert. The grand result of all these tiny floating bits of matter is the region's milky, misty, opalescent air.
In the left foreground we see a small stretch of the volcano's relatively steep western flank. On the Gran Cono, rocks and pumice shards generally have an angle of repose of about 30 degrees from horizontal. According to my own highly sophisticated measurement technology—a plastic protractor pressed against my PC screen—the lower slope is almost exactly that, with the upper portion being up to 40 degrees or so.
Far far beyond that crunchy, crumbly surface lies the city of Castellammare di Stabia, facing the Gulf of Naples. The Pompeii archaeological complex is also partially visible, I think, at far left behind the upper section of the slope.
The high ground on the horizon is the eastern side of the Sorrento Peninsula. It's composed of Mesozoic-era limestones with some Quaternary pyroclastic deposits wafted in from you-know-where.
Speaking of slopes, if you've ever driven around the Sorrento area, you know how vertiginous its peninsula's hillsides are in many places. With all those hairpin turns and tight bends around projecting masses of rock, it's not a good place for drivers to take their eyes off the road.
The other photos and descriptions of this series can be found in my Integrative Natural History of Mount Vesuvius & the Gulf of Naples album.