Massive Magma Chamber Discovered Beneath Kolumbo Submarine Volcano
2025-02-15
A new study using full-waveform inversion seismic imaging has revealed a large, previously undetected mobile magma chamber beneath Kolumbo, an active submarine volcano near Santorini, Greece. The chamber, growing at an estimated 4 million cubic meters per year since Kolumbo's last eruption in 1650 CE, now holds 1.4 cubic kilometers of melt. Researchers warn that continued growth could lead to another eruption within the next 150 years, potentially causing a catastrophic event similar to the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption. This discovery highlights the urgent need for real-time monitoring systems at submarine volcanoes to improve eruption forecasting and protect nearby populations.