Santorini Volcano Experiencing Another Unrest Phase

The Santorini volcano, known for the devastating Minoan eruption in 1600 BC, is part of the Hellenic Volcanic Arc in the Southern Aegean Sea and is classified as a caldera-forming system that experiences long-term periods of quiescence lasting approximately 20,000 years. Throughout historical times, the volcano has undergone several eruptions. In early 2011 and the first half of 2012 the volcano recorded a new reactivation that did not culminate in an eruption. Increased microseismic activity with low-magnitude earthquakes (ML<3.2) and significant ground uplift reaching 14 cm underlined the seismo-volcanic unrest.

Since the unrest event in 2011-2012, the Institute for the Study and Monitoring of the Santorini Volcano (ISMOSAV) has been continuously monitoring the volcano using various in-situ networks, including seismological, GNSS, gas, and thermal sensors, as well as satellite SAR interferometry. ISMOSAV, a non-profit organization, aims to ensure the continuing operation of the Volcanological Observatory and monitoring networks. These networks are primarily maintained by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) and the Hellenic Survey of Geology & Mineral Exploration (HSGME).


Copernicus Sentinel-1 Line-of-Sight (LOS) motion rates for the period 07/2024-12/2024 from both the ascending (left) and descending (right) orbital tracks. Blue colors represent uplift or motion towards the satellite, which is consistent with the inflation of the volcanic edifice. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission data [2024], processed by AUTh EO.Lab on GEP.

For the systematic InSAR monitoring, ISMOSAV relies on the SNAPPING service of the Geohazards Exploitation Platform (GEP), a cloud-based platform that facilitates the processing of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data for monitoring surface deformation. The SNAPPING service, developed by the Earth Observation & Geospatial Applications Lab (EO.Lab) of AUTh, and integrated into GEP, enables precise and automated Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) analysis, allowing for the detection and monitoring of surface motion with high accuracy using Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission data [Service Documentation].

Currently, the Santorini volcano is undergoing another unrest phase, which has been detected and continuously monitored for several months. EO-based measurements indicate increasing surface uplift, accompanied by seismic activity as observed by the AUTh Seismological Station (https://seismo.auth.gr/).

The recent volcanic activity closely resembles the one of the 2011-2012 episode, which lasted approximately 14 months and ended without any eruptive event. The ISMOSAV scientific committee continues intensively to monitor the volcano to assess the volcanic behavior.

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