Abstract
Large explosive volcanic eruptions from island arcs pour pyroclastic currents into marine basins, impacting ecosystems and generating tsunamis that threaten coastal communities and infrastructures. Risk assessments require robust records of such highly hazardous events, which is challenging as most of the products lie buried under the sea. Here we report the discovery by IODP Expedition 398 of a giant rhyolitic pumice deposit emplaced 520 ± 10 ky ago at water depths of 200 to 1000 m during a high-intensity, shallow submarine eruption of ancestral Santorini Volcano. Pyroclastic currents discharged into the sea transformed into turbidity currents and slurries, forming a >89 ± 8 km3 volcaniclastic megaturbidite up to 150 m thick in the surrounding marine basins, while breaching of the sea surface by the eruption column laid down veneers of ignimbrite on three islands. The eruption is one of the largest recorded on the South Aegean Volcanic Arc, and highlights the hazards from submarine explosive eruptions.
DOI Link
Publication Date
2024-01-15
Publication Title
Communications Earth & Environment
Volume
5
ISSN
2662-4435
Acceptance Date
2023-10-18
Deposit Date
2023-11-18
Embargo Period
2024-02-16
Funding
This research used samples and data provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). We thank the technical staff of the JOIDES Resolution for their efforts in attaining the scientific goals of Expedition 398, and all of the shipboard personnel for a great experience. Special gratitude goes to Bill Rhinehart, Chieh Peng and colleagues in helping us overcome many obstacles and to Katerina Petronotis and the leadership of IODP for their support. We thank the member organizations of IODP for financial aid, IODP France for paying the publication fee, and the Municipality of Thera for help in preparing for the expedition. Shan de Silva, Roberto Sulpizio and an anonymous reviewer provided helpful suggestions for improving the manuscript. This is Laboratory of Excellence ClerVolc contribution 622.
Additional Links
Recommended Citation
Druitt, T., Kutterolf, S., Ronge, T., Hübscher, C., Nomikou, P., Preine, J., Gertisser, R., Karstens, J., Keller, J., Koukousioura, O., Manga, M., Metcalfe, A., McCanta, M., McIntosh, I., Pank, K., Woodhouse, A., Beethe, S., Berthod, C., Chiyonobu, S., Chen, H., Clark, A., DeBari, S., Johnston, R., Peccia, A., Yamamoto, Y., Bernard, A., Fernandez, P., Jones, C., Joshi, K., Kletetschka, G., Li, X., Morris, A., Polymenakou, P., Tominaga, M., & Papanikolaou, D. (2024) 'Giant offshore pumice deposit records a shallow submarine explosive eruption of ancestral Santorini', Communications Earth & Environment, 5. Available at: 10.1038/s43247-023-01171-z
