Background

The Conference aims at serving as a forum for the presentation and constructive discussion of state of the art and emerging issues on the volcanism of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc (SAAVA) in the frame of the broader Mediterranean area.

The Aegean area is one of the most rapidly deforming parts of the Alpine - Himalayan belt delineated by the extremely high number of the seismic events occurring in this area. Deformation seems to be dominated by the effects of the westward motion of the Anatolia block, the southwestward motion of southern Aegean, the rollback of the Eastern Mediterranean lithosphere and the vertical movements of large lithospheric segments. Geophysical data verify the presence of a thinned continental crust in the Aegean Sea area and an anomalous heat flow, as a result of its complex geodynamic - geotectonic evolution.

The Aegean area exhibits constant magmatic activity since Oligocene, with the first voluminous volcanic activity manifested during Oligocene in northern Greece. This initial activity was followed by a southwestward migration through the north Aegean islands (voluminous Early Miocene volcanism) and Cyclades (Miocene I-type plutonism) to the younger South Aegean Arc, Volos and Almopia areas (Pliocene - Quaternary).

Calc-alkaline volcanic activity was manifested during Plio-Quaternary, along a restricted belt, which extends in an arc form, from Susaki to the west to Nisyros island to the east, the so-called South Aegean Active Volcanic Arc (SAAVA). This arc hosts the active (Methana and Santorini) and potentially active (Milos and Nisyros) Hellenic volcanic centres. The volcanic arc is situated above the active subduction of the Eastern Mediterranean lithosphere and its associated Benioff zone up to the depth, verifying its role in the genesis of the arc.

The SAAVA volcanism is voluminous, with individual stratovolcanoes having volumes above sea level of the order of 10-40 km3. The main volcanic centres in the central part of the arc appear to be associated with big tectonic lineaments and active faults trending ENE-WSW.

The products of this type of volcanism are a typical calc-alkaline association, displaying a continuous evolution from basalts to rhyolites. Their chemical characteristics are closely comparable with those of the volcanics of island arcs sited on thin continental margins. Andesites and dacites are dominant, but less evolved members (basalts and basaltic andesites) are also common (about 25% of the total erupted products). The greater abundance of basalts is located at the central part of the arc (Santorini), where asthenospheric isotopic characteristics can be related with a greater up welling of a fertile asthenosphere, due to a greater amount of lithosphere extension.

Santorini Volcano has been in a state of unrest for since January 2011, with increased seismicity and inflation of the caldera. The remaining Aegean active volcanic centres are found in a dormant state.

Who should attend

- Scientists and researchers interested in the above topics

- Governmental & local authorities, institutes and individuals of the public and the private sector interested in natural hazards, deposits, industrial minerals, geothermal energy and volcano tourism

- Technology-equipment suppliers and service providers

Language

The official conference language is English

International Conference

Volcanism of the Southern Aegean in the frame of the broader Mediterranean area

10-12 October 2012, Santorini island, Greece