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.

8 January 2003            Back to Top

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.

Sources: Kathimerini News

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.

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

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 years 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.