1. SANTORY: SANTORini’s Seafloor Volcanic ObservatorY
- Author
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Paraskevi Nomikou, Paraskevi N. Polymenakou, Andrea Luca Rizzo, Sven Petersen, Mark Hannington, Stephanos Pantelis Kilias, Dimitris Papanikolaou, Javier Escartin, Konstantinos Karantzalos, Theodoros J. Mertzimekis, Varvara Antoniou, Mel Krokos, Lazaros Grammatikopoulos, Francesco Italiano, Cinzia Giuseppina Caruso, Gianluca Lazzaro, Manfredi Longo, Sergio Sciré Scappuzzo, Walter D’Alessandro, Fausto Grassa, Konstantina Bejelou, Danai Lampridou, Anna Katsigera, Anne Dura, Nomikou, P, Polymenakou, P, Rizzo, A, Petersen, S, Hannington, M, Kilias, S, Papanikolaou, D, Escartin, J, Karantzalos, K, Mertzimekis, T, Antoniou, V, Krokos, M, Grammatikopoulos, L, Italiano, F, Caruso, C, Lazzaro, G, Longo, M, Sciré, S, D'Alessandro, W, Grassa, F, Bejelou, K, Lampridou, D, Katsigera, A, and Dura, A
- Subjects
monitoring ,Global and Planetary Change ,Santorini ,marine technological innovation ,submarine volcano ,Ocean Engineering ,Aquatic Science ,hydrothermal vent ,Kolumbo ,Oceanography ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
Submarine hydrothermal systems along active volcanic ridges and arcs are highly dynamic, responding to both oceanographic (e.g., currents, tides) and deep-seated geological forcing (e.g., magma eruption, seismicity, hydrothermalism, and crustal deformation, etc.). In particular, volcanic and hydrothermal activity may also pose profoundly negative societal impacts (tsunamis, the release of climate-relevant gases and toxic metal(loid)s). These risks are particularly significant in shallow (2–dominated fluids at high temperatures (~265°C) with a clear mantle signature. Kolumbo’s HVF hosts actively forming seafloor massive sulfide deposits with high contents of potentially toxic, volatile metal(loid)s (As, Sb, Pb, Ag, Hg, and Tl). The proximity to highly populated/tourist areas at Santorini poses significant risks. However, we have limited knowledge of the potential impacts of this type of magmatic and hydrothermal activity, including those from magmatic gases and seismicity. To better evaluate such risks the activity of the submarine system must be continuously monitored with multidisciplinary and high resolution instrumentation as part of an in-situ observatory supported by discrete sampling and measurements. This paper is a design study that describes a new long-term seafloor observatory that will be installed within the Kolumbo volcano, including cutting-edge and innovative marine-technology that integrates hyperspectral imaging, temperature sensors, a radiation spectrometer, fluid/gas samplers, and pressure gauges. These instruments will be integrated into a hazard monitoring platform aimed at identifying the precursors of potentially disastrous explosive volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides of the hydrothermally weakened volcanic edifice and the release of potentially toxic elements into the water column.
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