Unlocking the Volcanic History of the Aegean Sea: Latest Discoveries - Technology

Uncovering the Volcanic History of the Aegean Sea

Core on deck!

For months , the crew of the JOIDES Resolution diligently worked to retrieve drill cores from the seafloor beneath the ship in the southern Aegean Sea . This expedition was part of IODP Expedition 398 , where geologists aimed to uncover the volcanic history of the region off the coast of Santorini , Greece.

Our expeditions drilling of the seafloor revealed a massive but previously unknown Volcanic eruption that took place more than 500,000 years ago . This discovery expands our understanding of the volcanic activity in the chain of volcanoes comprising the South Aegean Volcanic Arc , which will allow for a more accurate hazard analysis of this region.

Archaeologists and geologists have long been intrigued by the volcanic activity in the region , particularly the late Bronze Age eruption of Santorini around 1600 BCE , associated with the decline of the Minoan civilization . However , the on - land documentation is incomplete due to erosion and subsequent volcanic events covering older deposits.

Uncovering the Deep - Sea Record

The deep - sea drilling conducted during Expedition 398 provided researchers with a rare opportunity to access a geologic record that is not commonly preserved on land . Through the collection of drill cores at 12 sites , including the Santorini , Christiana , and Kolumbo volcanoes , scientists were able to gather more than 11,000 feet of core over 780 cores.

 As the geochemistry lab lead , I took small samples of multiple layers of volcanic rock and ash to dissolve into solution and analyze for their trace element composition . During an eruption , magma crystallizes and mixes with elements in the water and rock it comes into contact with . The resulting chemical changes in the magma are unique to the conditions of that particular eruption . So once I figure out the chemical composition of the deposit samples , I can fingerprint their volcanic origin.

One significant discovery during the expedition was the identification of the Archaeos Tuff , a thick , white pumice layer dating back between 510,000 and 530,000 years ago . This layer was spread over a wide area of the southern Aegean Sea , indicating a high - intensity eruption that was mainly submarine in nature.

Implications of the Discovery

The presence of the Archaeos Tuff suggests a greater potential for hazardous submarine volcanism in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc than previously recognized . This discovery highlights the need for officials to reevaluate volcanic hazards in the region to ensure the safety of the surrounding population . Further study of the composition and age of the Archaeos Tuff will provide valuable insights into the unique nature of this volcanic deposit and the volcanic processes in the Aegean Sea.