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Nisyros

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 36.5888°N
  • 27.1553°E

  • 698 m
    2,290 ft

  • 212050
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Weekly Report: 8 January-14 January 2003 Citation IconCite 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 Citation IconCite 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.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 4 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1888 Sep 25 ± 4 days Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Polyvotis Micros
1888 Sep 25 ± 4 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Polyvotis Micros

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
1888 Sep 25 ± 4 days    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1873 Jun - 1873 Sep 26 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Plegathon and Polyvotis
1873 Jun - 1873 Sep 26 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 8 Events for Episode 1 at Plegathon and Polyvotis

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Mud
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1873 Jun    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1871 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Plegathon and Polyvotis
1871 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Plegathon and Polyvotis

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Flames
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
1871    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1422 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption
1422 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Uncertain
1422    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
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. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 116: 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.

Figure (see Caption)

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. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 116: 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 tuff 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. Five explosion craters are located in the 800 x 1,400 m caldera floor. Post-caldera lava domes form the horizon.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).
The 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. 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 island of Yali (upper left) and the island of Nisyros Island (lower right) are shown this NASA International Space Station image (with N 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 caldera 3-4 km wide, much of the W side of which is filled by post-collapse lava domes, is visible on Nisyros Island.

NASA International Space Station image ISS006-E-30975, 2003 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
Nisyros has a 3.6-km-diameter caldera with walls 300-400 m high and is filled with lava domes, seen here in this September 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top). The edifice also has vents, scoria cones, dikes, fault systems, and geothermal features, including active fumaroles and hot springs.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).
GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites