Discover Volcanologists An unprecedentedly large magma chamber is growing under a volcano under the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, near the Greek tourist island of Santorini, according to reports. RT.
The new study concluded that the Colombo volcano” (columbus) Beneath the surface of the sea whose deadly eruption devastated the picturesque Greek island of Santorini nearly 400 years ago contains a growing magma chamber that could fuel another massive eruption in the next 150 years..
Colombo volcano is located about 7 kilometers (4 miles) from Santorini, 500 meters (1,640 feet) below sea level..
Colombo is one of the most active marine volcanoes in the world, and according to historical accounts, its last eruption in 1650 AD killed at least 70 people.
A study published on October 22, 2022 in the journal Geochemistry، Geophysics، Geosystems A previously undiscovered magma chamber growing under the Colombo volcano could trigger another volcanic eruption, endangering residents and tourists on Santorini..
High-resolution images and rock data indicate that the magma chamber is about 0.6 km wide and 2 km deep, with a molten mass of 42 km.%.
Magma deposits are located between about 2 kilometers and at least 4 kilometers below sea level, and they represent a great danger, as they can cause a volcanic eruption that may lead to a tsunami, according to the study..
Undersea volcanoes are monitored just like their counterparts on land, but due to the difficulty of installation Seismometers Under the sea, scientists have less data on undersea volcanoes.
In an attempt to overcome this problem, the scientists decided to test a different technique to study the internal mechanics of Colombo.
Specifically, they used a method called full wave inversion full-waveform inversion Synthetically produced seismic waves are used to create a high-resolution picture of how hard or soft the underground rock is.
Seismic waves travel at different speeds through the earth depending on the hardness of the rocks they pass through, for example, a type of seismic wave called a wave P more slowly if the rocks flow through a liquid, such as magma, than it does through solid rock.
By collecting data on the speed of seismic waves traveling through the Earth, scientists can learn where the magma formed.
Data from the seismic recordings showed a significant decrease in velocity under the volcano, indicating the presence of a magma chamber, rather than just solid rock..
Other calculations reveal that the magma chamber has been growing at a rate of 4 million cubic meters per year since its eruption in 1650..
The team also found that the chamber now contains approximately 1.4 cubic kilometers of magma.
According to the study’s lead author, Kajetan Chrapkiewicz, a geophysicist at Imperial College London, magma volume could reach nearly 2 cubic kilometers within the next 150 years. This was the estimated amount of magma that was expelled about 400 years ago.
