Excellent dissertation as this is incredibly informative, detailed, and thoroughly reviewed. I get really frustrated at the gloom and doom hype that is plastered all over media and you tube. I prefer to understand the science and it is ridiculous the way science is ignored in this country. At first, I was thinking that Santorini could possibly erupt, until I came cross a geologist site explaining the plate tectonics behind it all. We desperately need a media in this country that is more science oriented, and not hype driven. It helps to understand the ocean water intrusion in newly formed fractures and the fluctuating stresses that build up and release. It is interesting to learn about the different plates in that region and their movements and the complexity of their interactions. Thanks for your evaluation and knowledge, as it is very much appreciated.
Thanks so much. While I appreciate your characterization of your conjecture as a make believe story, you obviously construct your tale with more than a sufficient amount of data to make this more akin to a yet to be completed jigsaw puzzle awaiting the rest of the pieces. Given the complexity, and unseeable details of these age-old structures it’s probable it will be a few generations of scientists to completely accurately describe this area. Meantime the rest of the planet’s plates are on the move and also demanding attention.
Thank you! This is a very good integration of so much recent work!
There are marked geochemical differences between Kolumbo and Santorini despite their proximity that suggest a deep crustal differentiation. From:
Klaver, Martijn & Carey, Steven & Nomikou, Paraskevi & Smet, Ingrid & Godelitsas, Athanasios & Vroon, P.Z.. (2016). A distinct source and differentiation history for Kolumbo submarine volcano, Santorini volcanic field, Aegean arc. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 17. 10.1002/2016GC006398.
In this light the deflation observed at the Santorini site may suggest a new pressure communication now exist that provides connection towards the North-East?
Thanks, that is very interesting! Indeed, it does seem like there is some connection from Santorini towards the northeast, perhaps not related to the magma below Kolumbo itself. I am hoping that detailed datasets derived from this sequence illuminate the systems to give a clearer view of what is going on down there.
Indeed. The problem with colourcoding the quakes with time is for me too suggestive of Magma movement. The spatial jump(s) of the loco could instead indicate pressure communication through a much deeper path
Ah, we certainly don't intend to imply that the earthquakes track magma - the northeast earthquakes are almost certainly associated with fluids like water/CO2 along fault and fracture networks. I am less clear about the earthquakes closer to the volcanoes, but even with magma movement, they probably are in the surrounding bodies of rock rather than tracking the magma itself. The strongest indication of magma movement is the GPS, and (although we don't talk about it in this post) the ~2-hour period of continuous tremor about a day ago, but that data is so far very coarse and does not give good resolution on location.
Very interesting reading - my memory of college geology/volcanology classes 20+ years ago appreciate the stretch. Especially since my family and I visited Santorini last April. I found this while looking to see why it seemed like the number of earthquakes had dropped off recently.
Excellent dissertation as this is incredibly informative, detailed, and thoroughly reviewed. I get really frustrated at the gloom and doom hype that is plastered all over media and you tube. I prefer to understand the science and it is ridiculous the way science is ignored in this country. At first, I was thinking that Santorini could possibly erupt, until I came cross a geologist site explaining the plate tectonics behind it all. We desperately need a media in this country that is more science oriented, and not hype driven. It helps to understand the ocean water intrusion in newly formed fractures and the fluctuating stresses that build up and release. It is interesting to learn about the different plates in that region and their movements and the complexity of their interactions. Thanks for your evaluation and knowledge, as it is very much appreciated.
Thanks so much. While I appreciate your characterization of your conjecture as a make believe story, you obviously construct your tale with more than a sufficient amount of data to make this more akin to a yet to be completed jigsaw puzzle awaiting the rest of the pieces. Given the complexity, and unseeable details of these age-old structures it’s probable it will be a few generations of scientists to completely accurately describe this area. Meantime the rest of the planet’s plates are on the move and also demanding attention.
Thank you! This is a very good integration of so much recent work!
There are marked geochemical differences between Kolumbo and Santorini despite their proximity that suggest a deep crustal differentiation. From:
Klaver, Martijn & Carey, Steven & Nomikou, Paraskevi & Smet, Ingrid & Godelitsas, Athanasios & Vroon, P.Z.. (2016). A distinct source and differentiation history for Kolumbo submarine volcano, Santorini volcanic field, Aegean arc. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 17. 10.1002/2016GC006398.
In this light the deflation observed at the Santorini site may suggest a new pressure communication now exist that provides connection towards the North-East?
Thanks, that is very interesting! Indeed, it does seem like there is some connection from Santorini towards the northeast, perhaps not related to the magma below Kolumbo itself. I am hoping that detailed datasets derived from this sequence illuminate the systems to give a clearer view of what is going on down there.
Indeed. The problem with colourcoding the quakes with time is for me too suggestive of Magma movement. The spatial jump(s) of the loco could instead indicate pressure communication through a much deeper path
Ah, we certainly don't intend to imply that the earthquakes track magma - the northeast earthquakes are almost certainly associated with fluids like water/CO2 along fault and fracture networks. I am less clear about the earthquakes closer to the volcanoes, but even with magma movement, they probably are in the surrounding bodies of rock rather than tracking the magma itself. The strongest indication of magma movement is the GPS, and (although we don't talk about it in this post) the ~2-hour period of continuous tremor about a day ago, but that data is so far very coarse and does not give good resolution on location.
Look forward to your next story on this!
Very interesting reading - my memory of college geology/volcanology classes 20+ years ago appreciate the stretch. Especially since my family and I visited Santorini last April. I found this while looking to see why it seemed like the number of earthquakes had dropped off recently.