Hazardous explosive eruptions of a recharging multi-cyclic island arc caldera

Authors

Jonas Preine, University of Hamburg
Jens Karstens, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Christian Hübscher, University of Hamburg
Tim Druitt, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Clermont-Ferrand
Steffen Kutterolf, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Paraskevi Nomikou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Michael Manga, University of California at Berkeley
Ralf Gertisser, Keele University
Katharina Pank, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Sarah Beethe, Oregon State University
Carole Berthod, CNRS
Gareth Crutchley, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Iona McIntosh, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
Thomas Ronge, Texas A&M University
Masako Tominaga, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Acacia Clark, University of Tasmania
Susan DeBari, Western Washington University
Raymond Johnston, University of South Florida
Zenon Mateo, Texas A&M University
Ally Peccia, Columbia University
Christopher Jones, School of Psychology
Günther Kletetschka, University of Alaska Fairbanks
Abigail Metcalfe, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Clermont-Ferrand
Alexis Bernard, Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour
Hehe Chen, China University of Geosciences, Beijing
Shun Chiyonobu, Akita University
Tatiana Fernandez-Perez, Kent State University
Kumar Batuk Joshi, National Centre for Earth Science Studies
Olga Koukousioura, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Molly McCanta, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Antony Morris
Paraskevi Polymenakou
Adam Woodhouse
Yuzuru Yamamoto
Kuo Lung Wang
Hao Yang Lee
Xiaohui Li
Dimitrios Papanikolaou

ORCID

• Antony Morris: 0000-0003-2862-7377

Abstract

Caldera-forming eruptions of silicic volcanic systems are among the most devastating events on Earth. By contrast, post-collapse volcanic activity initiating new caldera cycles is generally considered less hazardous. Formed after Santorini’s latest caldera-forming eruption of ~1600 bce, the Kameni Volcano in the southern Aegean Sea enables the eruptive evolution of a recharging multi-cyclic caldera to be reconstructed. Kameni’s eruptive record has been documented by onshore products and historical descriptions of mainly effusive eruptions dating back to 197 bce. Here we combine high-resolution seismic reflection data with cored lithologies from International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 398 at four sites to determine the submarine architecture and volcanic history of intra-caldera deposits from Kameni. Our shore-crossing analysis reveals the deposits of a submarine explosive eruption that produced up to 3.1 km³ of pumice and ash, which we relate to a historical eruption in 726 ce. The estimated volcanic explosivity index of magnitude 5 exceeds previously considered worst-case eruptive scenarios for Santorini. Our finding that the Santorini caldera is capable of producing large explosive eruptions at an early stage in the caldera cycle implies an elevated hazard potential for the eastern Mediterranean region, and potentially for other recharging silicic calderas.

DOI

10.1038/s41561-024-01392-7

Publication Date

2024-03-25

Publication Title

Nature Geoscience

Volume

17

Issue

4

ISSN

1752-0894

First Page

323

Last Page

331

Recommended Citation

Preine, J., Karstens, J., Hübscher, C., Druitt, T., Kutterolf, S., Nomikou, P., Manga, M., Gertisser, R., Pank, K., Beethe, S., Berthod, C., Crutchley, G., McIntosh, I., Ronge, T., Tominaga, M., Clark, A., DeBari, S., Johnston, R., Mateo, Z., Peccia, A., Jones, C., Kletetschka, G., Metcalfe, A., Bernard, A., Chen, H., Chiyonobu, S., Fernandez-Perez, T., Joshi, K., Koukousioura, O., McCanta, M., Morris, A., Polymenakou, P., Woodhouse, A., Yamamoto, Y., Wang, K., Lee, H., Li, X., & Papanikolaou, D. (2024) 'Hazardous explosive eruptions of a recharging multi-cyclic island arc caldera', Nature Geoscience, 17(4), pp. 323-331. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01392-7