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Santorini Volcano: Scientists Investigate Potential for Major Eruption
The picturesque island of Santorini, a world-renowned tourist hotspot and a vital part of the Greek economy, sits precariously atop towering cliffs, concealing a latent threat beneath its stunning facade. Beneath the idyllic scenery lies an active volcano, and researchers are currently engaged in critical volcano research to assess the potential risks of a significant Santorini eruption. This investigation seeks to understand the subterranean dynamics and seismic activity that could trigger a future event in this volcanically active region.
Unveiling Santorini’s Volcanic Past and Present
Santorini’s iconic crescent shape is a stark reminder of a colossal prehistoric eruption that sculpted the island, leaving behind a vast caldera and a distinctive horseshoe-shaped rim. Now, for the first time, experts are meticulously examining the underlying geological processes to determine the possible magnitude of a future major eruption.
A BBC News team recently joined scientists aboard the British Royal Research Ship Discovery as they searched for crucial data to decipher the secrets hidden beneath the Aegean Sea.
Recent Seismic Activity and Underwater Volcano Monitoring
Just weeks prior to this research expedition, a series of earthquakes prompted nearly half of Santorini’s inhabitants to evacuate, highlighting the ever-present volcanic danger. This seismic episode served as a stark reminder that beneath the charming white villages, bustling restaurants, and luxurious accommodations, lies a zone where tectonic plates converge and interact within the Earth’s crust.
Professor Isobel Yeo, a specialist in submarine volcanoes from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, leads this important mission. Despite the fact that approximately two-thirds of the world’s volcanoes are located underwater, they remain largely unmonitored compared to their terrestrial counterparts.
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“There’s a degree of complacency, an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ mentality regarding the hazards posed by these underwater volcanoes, particularly when contrasted with better-known volcanoes like Vesuvius,” Professor Yeo explained, observing engineers deploying a car-sized robot into the sea.
This timely research initiative, conducted so soon after the recent earthquake swarm, is crucial for scientists to better interpret seismic unrest and identify indicators of an impending volcanic eruption.
Santorini’s last eruption occurred in 1950, but as recently as 2012, the volcano experienced a period of elevated activity. During this time, magma intruded into the volcano’s chambers, causing the islands to noticeably swell, according to Professor Yeo.
The Destructive Potential of Submarine Volcanoes
“Underwater volcanic eruptions can be exceptionally powerful and devastating,” Professor Yeo emphasized.
“A sense of security can be misleading if we become accustomed to minor eruptions and perceive the volcano as consistently dormant. It’s easy to assume future events will follow the same pattern, but this might not be the case,” she cautioned.
The 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption in the Pacific Ocean stands as a stark illustration, producing the most significant underwater explosion ever documented. This event generated a trans-oceanic tsunami that reached the Atlantic, with shockwaves felt as far away as the United Kingdom. The devastation inflicted upon some islands in Tonga, located near the volcano, was so severe that they remain uninhabited to this day.
Exploring Santorini’s Hydrothermal Vents
Directly beneath the research vessel, at a depth of 300 meters (984 feet), lie active hydrothermal vents. These fissures in the Earth’s crust transform the seabed into a vibrant landscape of orange-hued rocks and plumes of gas.
“We possess more detailed knowledge about the surfaces of certain planets than we do about what exists in these deep ocean environments,” Professor Yeo remarked.
The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is deployed to the seafloor to gather samples of fluids and gases and to collect rock fragments.
Investigating Hydrothermal Systems and Magma Interaction
These hydrothermal vents are characterized by the emission of hot water from subterranean cracks and are frequently located in proximity to volcanoes.
The presence of these vents is the primary reason Professor Yeo and a team of 22 international scientists are undertaking this month-long research expedition.
Currently, a key unanswered question revolves around the impact of seawater from these vents mixing with magma on the explosivity of a volcano.
“Our primary objective is to map the hydrothermal system,” Professor Yeo explained. This mapping endeavor is unlike traditional land-based mapping. “We need to investigate the Earth’s interior,” she noted.
Geohazard Mapping and Collaboration with Greek Authorities
The research mission encompasses investigations of both Santorini’s caldera and Kolombo, the other major volcano in the region, situated approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) northeast of Santorini.
While neither volcano is considered to be on the brink of immediate eruption, experts emphasize that a future eruption is inevitable.
The expedition’s data collection efforts will contribute to the creation of comprehensive datasets and geohazard maps for Greece’s Civil Protection Agency, according to Professor Paraskevi Nomikou, a member of the government emergency response team that convened daily during the recent seismic crisis.
Local Expertise and Community Safety
Professor Nomikou, a Santorini native, was inspired to pursue geology by her grandfather’s accounts of past earthquakes and eruptions.
“This scientific research holds immense importance because it will provide the local community with crucial information regarding the volcanic activity levels, and it will delineate areas that would be off-limits during a potential eruption,” she stated.
The findings will pinpoint the most hazardous zones on the Santorini seabed, enhancing risk assessment and mitigation strategies.
Scientific Rigor and Sample Analysis
Recognizing the substantial costs associated with such research endeavors, Professor Yeo maintains a rigorous schedule, with scientists working in continuous 12-hour shifts.
Professor John Jamieson from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, showcased volcanic rock specimens retrieved from the hydrothermal vents.
“Avoid touching that particular one,” he cautioned, “it contains high concentrations of arsenic.”
Pointing to another rock sample resembling a black and orange meringue with gold-colored flecks, he added: “This one is truly enigmatic – we are uncertain of its precise composition.”
These rock samples hold valuable historical records of the fluids, temperatures, and materials present within the volcano. “This geological setting is distinct from most others, making it exceptionally fascinating,” he emphasized.
At the heart of the research operation is a darkened shipping container on deck, serving as a control room where specialists monitor screens displaying data and imagery.
Underwater Robotics and Real-time Data Analysis
Using a joystick-based control system akin to a gaming console, engineers skillfully maneuver the underwater robot. Professor Yeo and Professor Nomikou collaborate, exchanging interpretations of a fluid pool identified by the robot.
The team has detected subtle seismic tremors emanating from the volcano, attributed to fluid movement within the volcanic plumbing system, causing fractures. Professor Yeo played an audio recording of these subterranean fractures, resembling amplified bass rhythms.
To map fluid pathways within the rocks, the scientists employ electromagnetic pulses directed into the Earth.
This technique generates a three-dimensional map illustrating the interconnectedness of the hydrothermal system and the volcano’s magma chamber, the source region for eruptions.
“We are conducting science with a direct benefit to the public, not solely for academic advancement. Our aim is to enhance public safety and preparedness,” Professor Nomikou stressed.
The recent earthquake episode in Santorini underscored the vulnerability of the island’s population to seismic threats and their dependence on the tourism sector.
Back on Santorini, photographer Eva Rendl discussed the impact of the recent events. During the earthquake swarm in February, she temporarily left the island with her daughter.
Tourism and Community Resilience
“The escalating intensity of the earthquakes was genuinely alarming,” she recalled.
While now back on the island, her business has experienced a downturn. “Clients have postponed bookings. Typically, my photography season commences in April, but my first confirmed shoot is not until May,” Eva explained.
In Oia, a popular town in Santorini, Janet, a tourist from Britain and Canada, mentioned that six individuals from her group of ten cancelled their Santorini vacations.
She believes that more reliable scientific information concerning the probabilities of earthquakes and volcanic activity would reassure potential visitors and encourage tourism.
“I subscribe to Google alerts and follow scientific updates, and this information does contribute to my sense of safety,” she added.
Santorini’s Enduring Appeal
Despite the underlying risks, Santorini retains its allure as a sought-after destination. In Imerovigli, newlyweds were observed scaling rooftops to capture iconic photographs.
The couple, married just moments before, had traveled from Latvia, undeterred by the island’s volcanic nature.
“Actually, we specifically wanted to get married near a volcano,” the groom, Tom, remarked, his bride Kristina by his side, embracing the unique and somewhat precarious charm of Santorini.