- 1Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece (annakat@geol.uoa.gr)
- 2Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture, Heraklion Crete, Greece (polymen@hcmr.gr)
- 3Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, Palermo, Italy (sergio.scire@ingv.it)
- 4Ploa Technology Consultants, S.L, Girona, Spain (amallios@ploatech.com)
- 5Remote Sensing Laboratory, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece (karank@central.ntua.gr)
- 6Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy (andrealuca.rizzo@unimib.it)
- 7Laboratoire de Géologie – CNRS, UMR 8538, École Normale Supérieure, Paris Sciences Letters (PSL) University, Paris, France (escartin.javier@gmail.com)
- 8Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography – MIO, Aix-Marseille-University (AMU), France (lars-eric.heimburger@mio.osupytheas.fr)
- 9Department of Physics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Zografou Campus, Athens, Greece (tmertzi@phys.uoa.gr)
SANTORY is a state-of-the-art project dedicated to advancing submarine volcanic hazard monitoring and risk mitigation in the Aegean Sea. Located in Kolumbo submarine volcano, northeast of Santorini Island, this groundbreaking observatory employs advanced imaging, geophysical and geochemical measurements, and real-time monitoring technologies to address one of the most significant volcanic threats in the region.
Over the past two years, SANTORY has provided unparalleled insights into Kolumbo’s geological dynamics and processes and potential hazards. High-resolution 3D mapping has identified steep slopes, mass-wasting deposits, and hydrothermal vent fields, crucial for assessing seafloor instability and the risks associated with eruptions and submarine landslides. Novel hyperspectral imaging and autonomous video systems have documented persistent hydrothermal venting, bubbling plumes, and environmental changes, offering a comprehensive baseline for tracking volcanic activity and geohazard precursors.
Autonomous sensors on the crater floor have continuously monitored hydrothermal outflow temperature, pressure, and fluid chemistry, capturing variations driven by tides and magmatic activity. These continuous datasets are critical for identifying precursor signals of volcanic unrest, such as changes in subsurface permeability and magmatic degassing. Chemical and isotopic analyses of hydrothermal fluids have confirmed the degassing of CO2-rich fluids with a mantle-like 3He/4He signature, underscoring Kolumbo’s potential for hazardous eruptions and its significance as a high-risk volcanic system.
SANTORY goes beyond scientific exploration; it is a transformative initiative aimed at improving volcanic hazard assessment and developing mitigation protocols. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and multidisciplinary expertise, the project delivers actionable insights to enhance early warning systems and protect vulnerable coastal communities.
How to cite: Katsigera, A., Nomikou, P., Polymenakou, P., Sciré Scappuzzo, S., Lazzaro, G., Mallios, A., Douskos, V., Rizzo, A. L., Longo, M., Escartin, J., Karantzalos, K., D' Alessandro, W., Heimburger, L.-E., Kilias, S., Mertzimekis, T., Grassa, F., Lampridou, D., and Anagnostou, E.: Two years of the SANTORY shallow seafloor observatory: Advancing submarine volcanic monitoring in the Aegean Sea (Greece), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5105, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5105, 2025.
