Revising the volume of the Minoan eruption (Santorini) based on new marine geophysical and sedimentological data
Year: 2022
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: With a maximum volume estimate of up to 86 km³ dense-rock equivalent (DRE), the Minoan \nEruption is considered one of the largest Holocene eruptions. However, as most eruption \nproducts were deposited in the Mediterranean, previous volume estimates based on a limited \ndatabase. We present new marine geophysical and sedimentological datasets allowing us to \nreassess the volume of the Minoan eruption in unprecedented detail. We combine high- \nresolution reflection seismic and P-wave tomography datasets with more than 40 marine \nsediment cores, constrained by X-ray computer-tomography (CT) scanning. The reflection \nseismic profiles indicate an ignimbrite volume of ~5.7 km³ DRE deposited on Santorini’s \nflanks, which is seven times smaller than previous estimates, while the P-wave tomography \nindicates ~5.5 km³ DRE of Minoan intra-caldera deposits, which is four times smaller than \nprevious estimates. CT-guided analysis of the sediment cores allows us to differentiate two \nash layers, which are separately integrated into ash deposit isopach maps and allows \ndetermine deposit porosities with high accurary. The combined ash volume of ~19.5 km³ \nDRE is in the same order as previous estimates. This yields a total eruption volume of ~31 \nkm³ DRE. In addition, we use the new datasets to constrain the post-eruptive topography of \nthe caldera and estimate the caldera collapse volume to be ~31.5 km³. The internal \nconsistency of both independent approaches implies high confidence in our estimates, likely \nrepresenting the most precise volume reconstruction of any major (M6.5+) volcanic eruption \nin the Holocene. Our analysis implies that the Minoan Eruption was smaller and produced \nsignificantly less ignimbrites than previous reconstructions indicated, while still causing a \ndevastating tsunami. This highlights the significant tsunamigenic potential of submarine- \nemplaced ignimbrites
Authors: Karstens, Jens, Schmid, Florian, Elger, Judith, Berndt, Christian, Crutchley, Gareth J., Kutterolf, Steffen, Kühn, Michel, Preine, J., Van der Bilt, W., Hooft, E., Druitt, T.H., Cederstroem, J.M., Hübscher, C., Nomikou, P., Carey, S.
Language: English
Subfield: Geology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7005651136