Mt. Thera
Kenneth Zelada
Julian Alter
Mt. Thera’s geological history
- Thera, in the modern greek Thíra, also called Santoríni.
- Santorini is an active volcano, although it has been in a dormant state since the end of the last eruption in 1950.
- The volcano erupted in the Bronze ages.
- The last eruption was extremely explosive.
- The magma below the volcano came into contact with the reservoir under the volcano and caused a violent eruption of steam.
- the eruption was of pliniana type that gave result to 35 km of ash that extended to the atmosphere.
- Eruption of Thera may inspired to Hesiod’s Theology about the Titanomachy.
- The eruption destroyed the Minoan settlement located at Akrotiri, on Santorini.
- The eruption was the source of the legend of Atlantis and of stories in the Old Testament book of Exodus.
Historical significance
Excavation of Akrotiri on Thera
- The first destruction happen ranging from 1645 Bc to 1500 Bc.
- The eruption was as the power of several hundred atomic bombs.
- Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 6 or 7.
- Dense Rock Equivalent (DRE)
- of 60 km3 (14 cu mi).
Thera’s energy released
- Hydrogeologist Philip LaMoreaux claimed in 1995 that the Minoan eruption caused climate change.
- The eruption caused Apocalyptic rainstorms, which devastated much of Egypt.
- Earthquakes with the eruption, shattered Knossos and damaged other settlements in northern Crete.
Climate effects.
- The primary hazards associated with the dome-forming eruptions that have occurred during the past 500 years on Santorini include:
- Phreatic (steam) explosions, ballistic ejecta, ash fallout, gas emissions and rockfalls/slope instability.
- Fine particles of ash may contaminate water supplies, damage crops and disrupt air traffic.
- Gas emissions from both lava flows and the eruption plumes may present a health hazard. Sulphur dioxide, steam, hydrogen chloride and other gases released from the eruption vent,
- when hot lava flows enter the sea, may lead to the formation of an acidic volcanic smog (vog).
Hazard Elements of Thera
Thera’s Silica content, viscosity levels
- The viscosity levels in thera are high in the magma.
- The Silica content in the magma is around 75%.
- Which is pretty high and makes it more explosive.
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRBC-TFtxHw
Topic 6
Question
A. Which Myth is associated with the Thera eruption?
B. Where is located Mt. Thera?
C. What was the VEI of Thera ?
A.The Titanomachy
B. Greece
C. 6 or 7
sources
Topic 6
- https://www.livescience.com/4846-eruption-thera-changed-world.html
- https://www.britannica.com/place/Thera
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minoan_eruption
- http://santorini.earth.ox.ac.uk/hazards