VOLCANIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT AT SANTORINI VOLCANO: A REVIEW AND A SYNTHESIS IN THE LIGHT OF THE 2011-2012 SANTORINI UNREST

Το 2011 και το πρώτο εξάμηνο του 2012 η Σαντορίνη γνώρισε την πρώτη σεισμο-ηφαιστειακή κρίση από το 1950, όπως αυτή ανιχνεύθηκε από τα μόνιμα εγκατεστημένα δίκτυα παρακολούθησης και ένα μεγάλο αριθμό παροδικών μετρήσεων. Η διέγερση αυτή χαρακτηρίστηκε από μικρού μεγέθους, αλλά έντονη σεισμική δραστηριότητα, σημαντική ανύψωση και διόγκωση του νησιού, αλλαγές της θερμοκρασίας του νερού και των γεωχημικών αερίων. Ενώ η διέγερση έληξε την άνοιξη του 2012, το παγκόσμιο ενδιαφέρον οδήγησε στην εκπόνηση αρκετών μελετών, σε μια προσπάθεια να αξιολογηθούν τα πιθανά σενάρια για την εξέλιξη της διέγερσης. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, συνοψίζουμε τα σημαντικότερα ευρήματα σχετικά με την επικινδυνότητα του ευρύτερου ηφαιστειακού συγκροτήματος της Σαντορίνης, καθώς και τις πληροφορίες που πρέπει να ληφθούν υπόψη για τη διαχείριση μιας πιθανής μελλοντικής ηφαιστειακής κρίσης.In 2011 and the first half of 2012 Santorini experienced its first seismo-volcanic unrest since 1950, as detected by the permanently installed monitoring networks and a large number of campaign measurements. The unrest was characterized by small magnitude but intense seismic activity, significant uplift and inflation deformation rates, and changes of water temperature as well as of fluid and soil gases. While the unrest ended in the spring of 2012, the world-wide interest led to the performance of several studies, in an attempt to assess the possible scenarios for the unrest evolution. Within this framework, we summarize the most important findings regarding the volcanic hazard assessment of the broader Santorini volcanic complex, as well as the constraints that need to be taken into account for a possible future volcanic crisis management

Constraining the long-term evolution of the slip rate for a major extensional fault system in the central Aegean, Greece, using thermochronology

The brittle/ductile transition is a major rheologic boundary in the crust yet little is known about how or if rates of tectonic processes are influenced by this boundary. In this study we examine the slip history of the large-scale Naxos/Paros extensional fault system (NPEFS), Cyclades, Greece, by comparing published slip rates for the ductile crust with new thermochronological constraints on slip rates in the brittle regime. Based on apatite and zircon fission-track (AFT and ZFT) and (U–Th)/He dating we observe variable slip rates across the brittle/ductile transition on Naxos. ZFT and AFT ages range from 11.8 ± 0.8 to 9.7 ± 0.8 Ma and 11.2 ± 1.6 to 8.2 ± 1.2 Ma and (U–Th)/He zircon and apatite ages are between 10.4 ± 0.4 to 9.2 ± 0.3 Ma and 10.7 ± 1.0 to 8.9 ± 0.6 Ma, respectively. On Paros, ZFT and AFT ages range from 13.1 ± 1.4 Ma to 11.1 ± 1.0 Ma and 12.7 ± 2.8 Ma to 10.5 ± 2.0 Ma while the (U–Th)/He zircon ages are slightly younger between 8.3 ± 0.4 Ma and 9.8 ± 0.3 Ma. All ages consistently decrease northwards in the direction of hanging wall transport. Most of our new thermochronological results and associated thermal modeling more strongly support the scenario of an identical fault dip and a constant or slightly accelerating slip rate of 6–8 km Myr− 1 on the NPEFS across the brittle/ductile transition. Even the intrusion of a large granodiorite body into the narrowing fault zone at 12 Ma on Naxos does not seem to have affected the thermal structure of the area in a way that would significantly disturb the slip rate. The data also show that the NPEFS accomplished a minimum total offset of 50 km between 16 and 8 Ma

Extensional faulting on Tinos island, Aegean sea, Greece: How many detachments?

Zircon and apatite fission track (ZFT and AFT) and (U-Th)/He, 40Ar/39Ar hornblende, and U-Pb zircon ages from the granites of Tinos Island in the Aegean Sea, Greece, suggest, together with published ZFT data, that there are three extensional detachments on Tinos. The Tinos granites crosscut the Tinos detachment. Cooling of the granites was controlled by the Livadi detachment, which occurs structurally above the Tinos detachment. Our U-Pb zircon age is 14.6 ± 0.2 Ma and two 40Ar/39Ar hornblende ages are 14.4 ± 0.4 and 13.7 ± 0.4 Ma. ZFT and AFT ages go from 14.4 ± 1.2 to 12.2 ± 1.0 Ma and 12.8 ± 2.4 to 11.9 ± 2.0 Ma. (U-Th)/He ages are from 10.4 ± 0.2 to 9.9 ± 0.2 Ma (zircon) and 11.9 ± 0.5 to 10.0 ± 0.3 Ma (apatite). All ages decrease northeastward in the direction of hanging wall transport on the Livadi detachment and age-distance relationships yield a slip rate of 2.6 (+3.3 / −1.0) km Ma−1. This rate is smaller than a published slip rate of 6.5 km Ma−1 for the Vari detachment, which is another detachment structurally above the Tinos detachment. Because of the different rates and because published ZFT ages from the footwall of the Vari detachment are ∼10 Ma, we propose that the Vari detachment has to be distinguished from the older Livadi detachment. We discuss various models of how the extensional detachments may have evolved and prefer a scenario in which the Vari detachment cut down into the footwall of the Livadi detachment successively exhuming deeper structural units. The thermochronologic ages demonstrate the importance of quantitative data for constraining localization processes during extensional deformation

The Mediterranean Ridge: A mass balance across the fastest growing complex on Earth

Depth migration of seismic reflection profiles across the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex between the African and Eurasian blocks illustrates profound variations in the geometry and internal structure along strike. Structural interpretations of four cross sections, together with bathymetric and acoustic surface information and drilling data, are used to volumetrically balance the amount of subduction versus accretion with time. Results suggest the existence of three distinct scenarios, with a jump in décollement in the west, intense backthrusting in the central part between Libya and Crete, and transcurrent tectonism in the east. The onset of accretion coincides with exhumation of thrust sheets (∼19 Ma), followed by rapid sediment accretion with thick, evaporite-bearing incoming successions facilitating outward growth of the wedge. The minimum rate of accretion (20–25% of the total sediment supply) is observed in the central portion where the ridge suffers maximum deformation. Here the indenting leading edge of the African Plate apparently forces the sediment into subduction, or local underplating. In contrast, an estimated 40–60% of the available sedimentary input was accreted in the western domain where collision is less accentuated. The results support the hypothesis that highly destructive forearc collisional events, like slab break off and exhumation of thrust sheets, can be followed by periods of accretion and continuous growth of accretionary wedges

Geology and geothermics of the Island of Milos (Greece)

Geothermal research which has been conducted on the island of Milos is reviewed and the island's geology is discussed in terms of the geodynamics of the eastern Mediterranean. The rock formations which outcrop at Milos are described in detail, including the crystalline basement, Neogene transgressive conglomerates and limestones, and the Quaternary volcanics and volcano-sedimentary series. The recent disjunctive tectonics and volcano-tectonics affecting Milos and the neighboring islands are reviewed. Thermal manifestations and their attendant mineralizations and hydrothermal alterations are described. The geophysical methods utilized in exploration and for the siting of production wells are described. Exploration work involved the drilling of 55 wells for thermometric determinations and a full scale electrical survey. Preliminary data from two production wells with bottom-hole temperatures in excess of 300/sup 0/C are reported. Fifty-four references are provided