The eruption of the Santorini volcano in the Mediterranean, which occurred approximately 520,000 years ago, has been revealed to be 15 times more massive than the record-breaking eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano in 2022. Scientists, conducting underwater research near the Greek island of Santorini, discovered a colossal layer of pumice and ash, measuring up to 500 feet (150 meters) in thickness. This finding sheds light on an explosively violent eruption that was previously unknown and significantly surpassed the well-documented volcanic activity in the region.
The extensive pumice and ash deposits, found beneath the Mediterranean seabed, indicate a cataclysmic blast that occurred half a million years ago. While past research on land provided insights into Santorini’s volcanic history, the marine sediments revealed a submerged phase of volcanic activity before the island’s emergence from the sea. The researchers, led by Professor Tim Druitt of the University of Clermont Auvergne in France, employed drilling techniques in late 2022 and early 2023 to extract sediment cores from depths of up to 3,000 feet (900 meters) at 12 drilling sites.
Analyzing the sediment layers allowed scientists to uncover evidence of the 520,000-year-old eruption, which ejected at least 21.6 cubic miles (90 cubic kilometers) of volcanic rock and ash. In comparison, the 2022 eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai produced 1.4 cubic miles (6 cubic kilometers) of debris. The magnitude of this discovery emphasizes the potential for tremendous underwater eruptions within the Hellenic volcanic arc, providing a unique opportunity for in-depth study.
Despite the enormity of the ancient eruption, scientists believe that Santorini is unlikely to experience a similar event in the next several hundred thousand years. The volcano’s last eruption occurred in 1950, resulting in non-threatening lava emissions. However, the magma chamber beneath Santorini is expected to continue fueling smaller eruptions in the coming decades and possibly centuries. The findings were published on January 15 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
