No latest activity reported for Santorini.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Barton M, Huijsmans J P P, 1986. Post-caldera dacites from the Santorini volcanic complex, Aegean Sea, Greece: an example of the eruption of lavas of near-constant composition over a 2,200 year period. {Contr Mineral Petr}, 94: 472-495

Druitt T H, Edwards L, Mellors R M, Pyle D M, Sparks R S J, Lanphere M, Davies M, Barreirio B, 1999. Santorini volcano. {Geol Soc London Mem}, 19: 1-165 and 1:20,000 geol map

Druitt T H, Francaviglia V, 1992. Caldera formation on Santorini and the physiography of the islands in the late Bronze age. {Bull Volc}, 54: 484-493

Druitt T H, Mellors R A, Pyle D M, Sparks R S J, 1989. Explosive volcanism on Santorini, Greece. {Geol Mag}, 126: 95-126

Fouque F, 1879. Santorini et ses Eruptions. Masson G (ed), Libraire l'Academie de Medicine, Paris, 440 p (English translation by A R McBirney published by Johns Hopkins Univ Press, 1998)

Friedrich W L, 2000. {Fire in the Sea, The Santorini Volcano: Natural History and the Legend of Atlantis}. London: Cambridge Univ Press, 258 p

Friedrich W L, Kromer B, Friedrich M, Heinemeier J, Pfeiffer T, Talamo S, 2006. Santorini eruption radiocarbon dated to 1627-1600 B.C.. {Science}, 312: 548

Fytikas M, Kolios N, Vougioukalakis G, 1990. Post-Minoan volcanic activity of the Santorini volcano: volcanic hazard and risk, forecasting possibilities. {In}: Hardy D (ed) {Thera and the Aegean World III}, London: Thera Foundation, 2: 183-198

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

Gertisser R, Preece K, Keller J, 2009. The plinian Lower Pumice 2 eruption, Santorini, Greece: magma evolution and volatile behavior. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 186: 387-406

Hardy D (ed), 1990. {Thera and the Aegean World III}. London: Thera Foundation

Heiken G, McCoy F, 1984. Caldera development during the Minoan eruption, Thira, Cyclades Greece. {J Geophys Res}, 89: 8441-8462

Higgins M D, 1996. Magma dynamics beneath Kameni volcano, Thera, Greece, as revealed by crystal size and shape measurements. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 70: 37-48

Kaloyeropoyloy A (ed), 1971. {Acta of the 1st International Science Congress on the Volcano of Thera, held in Greece, 15th-23rd September, 1969}. Athens: Arch Serv Greece, 436 p

Manning S W, Ramsey C B, Kutschera W, Higham T, Kromer B, Steier P, Wild E M, 2006. Chronology for the Aegean Late Bronze Age 1700-1400 B.C.. {Science}, 312: 565-569

McCoy F W, Heiken G, 2000. The late-Bronze age explosive eruption of Thera (Santorini), Greece: regional and local effects. {In}: McCoy F W, Heiken G (eds), {Volcanic Hazards and Disasters in Human Antiquity}, Geol Soc Amer Spec Pap, 345: 43-70

Sigurdsson H, Carey S, Alexandri M, Vougioukalaki G, Croff K, Roman C, Sakellariou D, Angagnostsu C, Rousakis G, Ioakim C, Gogou A, Ballas D, Misaridis T, Nomikou P, 2006. Marine investigations of Greece's Santorini volcanic field. {Eos, Trans Amer Geophys Union}, 87: 337, 342

Taddeucci J, Wohletz K H, 2001. Temporal evolution of the Minoan eruption (Santorini, Greece), as recorded by its Plinian fall deposit and interlayered ash flow beds. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 109: 299-317

Vespa M, Keller J, Gertisser R, 2006. Interplinian explosive activity of Santorini volcano (Greece) during the past 150,000 years. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 153: 262-286

Vougioukalakis G, 1996. Santorini, Guide to "The Volcano". Institute for the Study and Monitoring of the Santorini Volcano, 82 p

Renowned Santorini (Thera), with its steep-walled caldera rim draped by whitewashed villages overlooking an active volcanic island in the center of a caldera bay, is one of the scenic highlights of the Aegean. The circular island group is composed of overlapping shield volcanoes cut by at least four partially overlapping calderas. The oldest southern caldera was formed about 180,000 years before present (BP), followed by the Skaros caldera about 70,000 years BP, and then the Cape Riva caldera about 21,000 years BP. The youngest caldera formed about 3600 years BP during the Late-Bronze-Age Minoan eruption that forced abandonment of the thriving Aegean Sea island. Post-Minoan eruptions beginning in 197 BC constructed a series of lava domes and flows that form two islands near the center of the caldera. A submarine eruption took place in 1650 AD outside the caldera NE of Thera. The latest eruption at Santorini produced a small lava dome and flow in 1950, accompanied by explosive activity.