Revised Minoan eruption volume as benchmark for large volcanic eruptions

Jens Karstens (), Jonas Preine, Gareth J. Crutchley, Steffen Kutterolf, Willem G. M. Bilt, Emilie E. E. Hooft, Timothy H. Druitt, Florian Schmid, Jan Magne Cederstrøm, Christian Hübscher, Paraskevi Nomikou, Steven Carey, Michel Kühn, Judith Elger and Christian Berndt
Additional contact information
Jens Karstens: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Jonas Preine: University of Hamburg, Institute of Geophysics
Gareth J. Crutchley: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Steffen Kutterolf: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Willem G. M. Bilt: University of Bergen
Emilie E. E. Hooft: University of Oregon
Timothy H. Druitt: Université Clermont Auvergne, OPGC, CNRS, IRD
Florian Schmid: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Jan Magne Cederstrøm: University of Bergen
Christian Hübscher: University of Hamburg, Institute of Geophysics
Paraskevi Nomikou: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Geology and Geoenvironment
Steven Carey: University of Rhode Island
Michel Kühn: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Judith Elger: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Christian Berndt: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Despite their global societal importance, the volumes of large-scale volcanic eruptions remain poorly constrained. Here, we integrate seismic reflection and P-wave tomography datasets with computed tomography-derived sedimentological analyses to estimate the volume of the iconic Minoan eruption. Our results reveal a total dense-rock equivalent eruption volume of 34.5 ± 6.8 km³, which encompasses 21.4 ± 3.6 km³ of tephra fall deposits, 6.9 ± 2 km³ of ignimbrites, and 6.1 ± 1.2 km³ of intra-caldera deposits. 2.8 ± 1.5 km³ of the total material consists of lithics. These volume estimates are in agreement with an independent caldera collapse reconstruction (33.1 ± 1.2 km³). Our results show that the Plinian phase contributed most to the distal tephra fall, and that the pyroclastic flow volume is significantly smaller than previously assumed. This benchmark reconstruction demonstrates that complementary geophysical and sedimentological datasets are required for reliable eruption volume estimates, which are necessary for regional and global volcanic hazard assessments.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38176-3

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