Geologists At Nisyros

Over the course of the last decade, our beloved island has caught the attention of the diaspora as it takes strides toward the future. With advancing technologies as an increasing and necessary part of local residents’ lives, Nisyros is no longer the island solely based on simplicity and tradition. Technology has increasingly provided local residents with new means of conducting business and new forms of leisure. Although much attention has been paid to the technological advancements that are an important part of the every day, little has been drawn to the island’s natural attractions.

Of the first sites that tourists visit upon their arrival, Nisyros’ volcano has called for the attention of geologists and researchers over the course of the last decade. Located in the Eastern-most part of the Aegean, Nisyros possesses the most active in a chain of volcanoes. Due to the nature of its hazardous volcanic activity, Nisyros has become the ideal spot for geologists to conduct geothermal testing. The volcano, which is easily accessible, allows researchers to employ advancing technologies at a relatively low cost. For the tourists who visit the volcano, the active and subsequently dangerous craters are a point of fascination and discussion. However, for the geologists and researchers that closely monitor the volcanic activity, these same craters have raised cause for their concern. After the conduction of several studies, groups such as GEOWARN, a group of researchers that have followed the volcano for years, have assessed that several possibilities exist for natural disaster.

Through the use of heat detecting technologies, the GEOWARN team has monitored the rising temperature of the volcano in an effort to assess potential threats. While there has not been an eruption since the late 1800s, the constant and rising seismic and fumarolic activity continues to provoke the concern of geologists. After conducting their research, this group has come to the conclusion that potential disaster could take many forms including seismic activity due to regional tectonic movements, hydrothermal eruptions within the volcano or even a tsunami resulting from earthquakes and magmatic activity.

Although there have been warning systems put into effect, it is unclear as to whether or not these systems will be able to provide adequate warning for potential threats. While volcanic activity seems to pose no threat to the immediate future, it continues to attract the curiosity of locals and tourists as it carries with it a rich history.

-          Rena Konstantinidis