Global Volcanism Program

Most Recent Weekly Report: 8 January-14 January 2003 Cite this Report

According to a news article, the crater of Nisyros was declared off limits to visitors, due to increasing temperatures and growing surface cracks. Evangelos Layios, the director of Athens University's geophysics laboratory, stated, ". . . earthquakes in 1995-96 triggered changes in the general condition of the volcano. For example, the hydrothermal system has increased in [temperature] from 210 to 315 degrees Celsius, there is continuous microseismic activity as well as changes on the surface of the ground." The ban on visitors was prompted by a crack on the volcano that almost tripled in length over the past year to 139 m.

Source: Kathimerini News

Weekly Reports - Index

2003: January

8 January-14 January 2003 Cite this Report

According to a news article, the crater of Nisyros was declared off limits to visitors, due to increasing temperatures and growing surface cracks. Evangelos Layios, the director of Athens University's geophysics laboratory, stated, ". . . earthquakes in 1995-96 triggered changes in the general condition of the volcano. For example, the hydrothermal system has increased in [temperature] from 210 to 315 degrees Celsius, there is continuous microseismic activity as well as changes on the surface of the ground." The ban on visitors was prompted by a crack on the volcano that almost tripled in length over the past year to 139 m.

Source: Kathimerini News

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Nisyros.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Achelone

Vent

Acheolus

Vent

Agios Joannis

Vent

588 m

Alexandros

Vent

Andreas

Vent

Kaminakia

Vent

Logothetis

Vent

Phlegethon

Vent

Polybotes

Vent

Polyvotis Megalos
Megalos Polybotes

Vent

Polyvotis Micros
    Mikros Polybotes
    Polybotes Micros
    Micros Polybotes

Vent

Stefanos
Stephanos

Vent

110 m

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Boriatiko Vouno

Dome

Karaviotis

Dome

Kratioti

Dome

Lofos

Dome

Profitis Ilias
Profit Elias

Dome

698 m

Trapezina

Dome

Thermal

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Emborio

Thermal

Kailia

Thermal

Nikia

Thermal

Piria

Thermal

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

212050

1888 CE

698 m / 2289 ft

36.586°N
27.16°E

Volcano Types

Stratovolcano
Caldera
Lava dome(s)

Rock Types

Major
Dacite
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

672
680
14,285
461,031

Geological Summary

The easternmost volcano of the Aegean arc forms the 9-km-wide island of Nisyros, which is truncated by a 3-4 km wide caldera. The island was constructed during the past 150,000 years, with three cone-building stages including explosive and effusive andesitic eruptions and effusive and extrusive dacitic and rhyolitic activity. The age of the caldera is variously considered to be <24,000 years before present (BP) (Keller et al., 1990) and >44,000 BP (Limburg and Varekamp, 1991). Five large post-caldera lava domes completely fill the western part of the caldera. The NE-most (Boriatiko) and SW-most (Karaviotis) lava domes and flows are significantly younger than the other domes. A sixth post-caldera dome, outside the SW caldera rim, produced lava flows that reached the coast. Historical phreatic eruptions occurred from craters within the caldera between 1422 and 1888. Intense hydrothermal activity continues in the form of many fumaroles on the caldera floor and hot springs along the coast.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Brombach T, Caliro S, Chiodini G, Fiebig J, Hunziker J C, Raco B, 2003. Geochemical evidence for mixing of magmatic fluids with seawater, Nisyros hydrothermal system, Greece. Bull Volc, 65: 505-516.

Caliro S, Chiodini G, Galluzzo D, Granieri D, La Rocca M, Saccorotti G, Ventura G, 2005. Recent study of Nisyros volcano (Greece) inferred from structural, geochemical and seismological data. Bull Volc, 67: 358-369.

Di Paola G M, 1974. Volcanology and Petrology of Nisyros Island (Dodecanese, Greece). Bull Volc, 38: 944-987.

Francalanci L, Varekamp J C, Vougioukalakis G, Defant M J, Innocenti F, Manetti P, 1995. Crystal retention, fractionation and crustal assimilation in a convecting magma chamber, Nisyros volcano, Greece. Bull Volc, 56: 601-620.

Georgalas G C, 1962. Greece. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 12: 1-40.

Keller J, 1980. The island of Vulcano. Soc Italiana Min Petr, 36: 368-413.

Keller J, 1982. Mediterranean Island Arcs. In: Thorpe R S (ed) {Andesites}, New York: John Wiley Sons, p 307-326.

Keller J, Rehren T, Stadlbauer E, 1990. Explosive volcanism in the Hellenic arc: a summary and review. In: Hardy D (ed) {Thera and the Aegean World III}, London: Thera Foundation, 2: 13-26.

Lagios E, Sakkas V, Parcharidis I, Dietrich V, 2005. Ground deformation of Nisyros volcano (Greece) for the period 1995-2002: results from DInSAR and DGPS observations. Bull Volc, 68: 201-214.

Limburg E M, Varekamp J C, 1991. Young pumice deposits on Nisyros, Greece. Bull Volc, 54: 68-77.

Marini L, Principe C, Chiodini G, Cioni R, Fytikas M, Marinelli G, 1993. Hydrothermal eruptions of Nisyros (Dodecanese, Greece). Past events and present hazard. J Volc Geotherm Res, 56: 71-94.

Sachpazi M, Kontoes C, Voulgaris N, Laigle M, Vougioukalakis G, Sikioti O, Stavrakakis G, Baskoutas J, Kalogeras J, Lepine J C, 2002. Seismological and SAR signature of unrest at Nisyros caldera, Greece. J Volc Geotherm Res, 116: 19-33.

Tibaldi A, Pasquare F A, Papanikolaou D, Nomikou P, 2008. Discovery of a huge sector collapse at the Nisyros volcano, Greece, by on-land and offshore geological-structure data. J Volc Geotherm Res, 177: 485-499.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 4 Holocene eruptive periods.

Start Date	Stop Date	Eruption Certainty	VEI	Evidence	Activity Area or Unit
1888 Sep 25 ± 4 days	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Polyvotis Micros
1873 Jun	1873 Sep 26	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Plegathon and Polyvotis
1871	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations	Plegathon and Polyvotis
1422	Unknown	Confirmed	2	Historical Observations

Deformation History

There is data available for 2 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.

Deformation during 1998 - 2000 [Subsidence; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1998	Stop Date: 2000	Direction: Subsidence	Method: InSAR
Magnitude: 7.000 cm	Spatial Extent: Unknown	Latitude: Unknown	Longitude: Unknown

Reference List: Lagios et al. 2005; Sykioti et al. 2003; Sachpazi et al. 2002.

Full References:

Lagios, E., Sakkas, V., Parcharidis, I., & Dietrich, V., 2005. Ground deformation of Nisyros Volcano (Greece) for the period 1995-2002: Results from DInSAR and DGPS observations. Bulletin of Volcanology, 68(2), 201-214..

Sachpazi, M., Kontoes, C., Voulgaris, N., Laigle, M., Vougioukalakis, G., Sikioti, O., Stavrakakis, G., Baskoutas, J., Kalogeras, J. and Lepine, J.C.,, 2002. Seismological and SAR signature of unrest at Nisyros caldera, Greece. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 116(1), pp.19-33.

Sykioti, O., Kontoes, C. C., Elias, P., Briole, P., Sachpazi, M., Paradissis, D., & Kotsis, I., 2003. Ground deformation at Nisyros volcano (Greece) detected by ERS-2 SAR differential interferometry. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 24(1), 183-188.

Deformation during 1995 - 1998 [Uplift; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1995	Stop Date: 1998	Direction: Uplift	Method: InSAR
Magnitude: 14.000 cm	Spatial Extent: Unknown	Latitude: Unknown	Longitude: Unknown
Remarks: Uplift from 1995 to 1998 is coincident with intense seismic activity.
		Interferograms calculated by the phase di?erence of SAR images recorded by ERS satellite for the period from June 4, 1995 to June 8, 1997. A continuous surface movement with an approximately circular shape is observed with its center to the NW coast of the island. (a) Three fringes are shown for the period of June 4, 1995 to May 19, 1996, indicating a ground defor- mation in slant range direction of the order of 84 mm. (b) Two fringes are shown for the period of May 19, 1996 to June 8, 1997, indicating a further surface displacement of 56 mm. (c) Five fringes of 140 mm occurred in the period 1995^1997. From: Sachpazi et al. 2002.

Reference List: Lagios et al. 2005; Sykioti et al. 2003; Sachpazi et al. 2002.

Full References:

Lagios, E., Sakkas, V., Parcharidis, I., & Dietrich, V., 2005. Ground deformation of Nisyros Volcano (Greece) for the period 1995-2002: Results from DInSAR and DGPS observations. Bulletin of Volcanology, 68(2), 201-214..

Sachpazi, M., Kontoes, C., Voulgaris, N., Laigle, M., Vougioukalakis, G., Sikioti, O., Stavrakakis, G., Baskoutas, J., Kalogeras, J. and Lepine, J.C.,, 2002. Seismological and SAR signature of unrest at Nisyros caldera, Greece. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 116(1), pp.19-33.

Sykioti, O., Kontoes, C. C., Elias, P., Briole, P., Sachpazi, M., Paradissis, D., & Kotsis, I., 2003. Ground deformation at Nisyros volcano (Greece) detected by ERS-2 SAR differential interferometry. International Journal of Remote Sensing, 24(1), 183-188.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Nisyros.

Photo Gallery

The ash cone and crater in the foreground were formed during an eruption on the caldera floor in 1871. Phreatic explosions ejected ash and lapilli that covered the caldera floor, destroying fruit gardens. Five explosion craters pocket the 800 x 1400 m wide caldera floor. Post-caldera lava domes form the horizon.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).

Mount Hagi Ilias lava dome occupies the western side of a 3-4 km wide caldera at the summit of Nisyros volcano, the easternmost of the Aegean arc. The age of the caldera is variously considered to be <24,000 years before present (BP) and >44,000 years BP. Five large post-caldera lava domes completely fill the western part of the caldera. Historical phreatic eruptions occurred within the caldera between 1422 and 1888.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).

The crescent-shaped island of Yali (upper left) lies above and to the left of Nisyros Island (lower right) in this NASA Space Shuttle image (with north to the upper left). Yali contains two distinct segments connected by a narrow isthmus formed of modern reef sediments and consists of rhyolitic obsidian domes at the NE end and pumice-fall deposits at the SW end. A 3-4 km wide caldera, much of the western side of which is filled by post collapse lava domes, is visible on historically active Nisyros Island.

NASA Space Shuttle image ISS006-E-30975, 2003 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Nisyros in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

Affiliated Sites

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

Large Eruptions of Nisyros

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).