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The volcanic debris avalanche on the SE submarine slope of Nisyros volcano, Greece: geophysical exploration and implications for subaerial eruption history

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Abstract

A spectacular hummocky topography was discovered offshore of the south-eastern slope of the Nisyros island volcano in the eastern sector of the Aegean volcanic arc in 2000–2001, using multibeam bathymetric mapping and seismic profiling, and interpreted as part of a volcanic debris avalanche originating onland. During E/V Nautilus cruise NA011 in 2010, a detailed side-scan sonar and ROV exploration aimed at evaluating the surface morphology of this avalanche field. Combining the new data with selected older datasets reveals that the debris avalanche is characterized by numerous (at least 78) variously sized and shaped hummocks. Some of these are distinctly round, either scattered or aligned in groups, whereas others are elongated in the form of ridges. This is consistent with existing models accounting for variations in the longitudinal and lateral velocity ratio of landslides. Maximum dimensions reach 60 m in height above the sea bottom, 220 m in length and 230 m in width. The structures outline a large tongue-shaped, submarine hummock field of about 22.2 km2, approx. 4.8 km wide and 4.6 km long and with an estimated volume of 0.277 km3. Due to its characteristic shape, the collapsed volcanic flank is interpreted to represent a singular failing event, involving a rapid and virtually instantaneous downslope movement of the slide mass into the sea. Indeed, the H/L (height of 280 m vs. run-out of 7 km) ratio for the Nisyros slide is 0.04; plotted against volume, this falls within the theoretical bounds as well as measured values typical of submarine landslides. The timing of the event is probably related to the extrusion of Nikia lavas and their subsequent failure and formation of a main scarp observed at about 120 m depth on an 8-km-long seismic profile and a map of slope angle distribution, at the depth where the palaeo-coastline was located 40 ka ago. An inferred age of ca. 40 ka for the avalanche awaits confirmation based on dating of core material.

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Acknowledgements

This work is a part of the GEOWARN project (contract no. IST-1999-12310). The European Commission is acknowledged for financial support. Additional funding was provided by the Institute for Exploration (IFE-USA) within the framework of the cooperative research project “New Frontiers in the Ocean Exploration 2010”. The officers and the crew of the R/V Aegaeo and E/V Nautilus are gratefully acknowledged for their important and effective contribution to the field work and sampling. K.L.C. Bell is thanked for operational support and participation in data collection. Vasilis Anagnostopoulos and George Anastasakis are thanked for sharing seismic profiles. Vasilis Lykousis, Alessandro Tibaldi, an anonymous reviewer as well as the journal editors provided useful and constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, University of Athens, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Isidoros Livanos, Paraskevi Nomikou & Dimitris Papanikolaou

  2. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 712, 19013, Anavyssos, Attiki, Greece

    Grigoris Rousakis

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  1. Isidoros Livanos
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  2. Paraskevi Nomikou
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  3. Dimitris Papanikolaou
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  4. Grigoris Rousakis
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Correspondence to Paraskevi Nomikou.

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Livanos, I., Nomikou, P., Papanikolaou, D. et al. The volcanic debris avalanche on the SE submarine slope of Nisyros volcano, Greece: geophysical exploration and implications for subaerial eruption history. Geo-Mar Lett 33, 419–431 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-013-0338-y

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