Pre-Conference Field Trip COV11
Nisyros Field Trip 8-11 June 2022

Field Leaders
Loyc Vanderkluysen
Department of Biodiversity,Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, USA
loyc@drexel.edu
Samuel Mitchell
Facilities Technician, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. UK
sam.mitchell@bristol.ac.uk
Date
8-11 June 2022
Duration
4 days
Number of participants
from 25 to 30
Cost
430 €
Booking deadline is Μay 10, 2022.. Please contact the Leader Mr Loyc Vanderkluysen for more updates.
The island of Nisyros is located at the easternmost end of the Quaternary South Aegean Volcanic Arc as part of the Kos-Nisyros-Yali Volcanic Field, from where 160,000 years ago the largest eruption in the eastern Mediterranean (the silicic Kos Plateau Tuff) devastated the entire Dodecanese islands. Nisyros volcano is almost circular, with an average diameter of 8 km, and covers an area of ~ 42 km2.
It lies above a basement of Mesozoic limestone and a thinned crust of the Alpine orogen, with a mantle-crust transition at ~ 27 km depth. The volcanic edifice of Nisyros comprises a succession of calc-alkaline lavas and pyroclastic rocks, with a summit caldera of an average diameter of 4 km. Although the last magmatic volcanic activity on Nisyros dates back at least 18,000 years, the present geodynamic activity encompasses high seismic unrest and widespread fumarolic activity with surface temperatures of ~ 100°C and 350°C at a depth of 1’500m. Violent earthquakes and steam blasts accompanied the most recent hydrothermal eruptions in 1871–1873 and 1887 and left large hydrothermal explosion craters behind. Mud and hydrothermal vapor rich in CO2 and H2S were emitted from fracture zones which cut the caldera and extend towards the NNW through the vicinity of the village of Mandraki, into the island of Yali, and even towards Kos. In 1996 and 1997 seismic activity started with earthquakes of magnitudes up to 5.5 and with hypocenters down to 10 km depth around inferred magna reservoirs between 5 -12 km. The discharge of all hydrothermal craters in the caldera releases 68 tons of hydrothermal-volcanic derived CO2 and around 42 MW of thermal energy per day.
Nisyros Island has a long-standing colorful history since it is found at the crossroads between occidental and oriental cultures. Cycladic and Minoan relicts are spotted in the wild mountainous scenery of post-caldera domes, whereas witnesses from the Hellenistic epoch, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman times are represented in ancient caverns and spas, magnificent castles, churches and monasteries.
The Yali volcanic island with eruptive ages between approx. 40,000 and 20,000 years exhibits parts of a submerged caldera, dissected by a post-caldera N-S fault Yali is located north of the island of Nisyros, with max. length of 5km, max. widths of 1.5km and a max. altitude of 165m is by Two large pumice successions built up the southwestern part of the island, whereas the north-eastern part comprises obsidian-perlitic lava domes and flows covered by pumice deposits. Since 1952 pumice and perlite are quarried on the uninhabited volcanic island
Indicative Program
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
19:00 | Afternoon arrival at Mandraki port Evening walk to NW Cape Monastery Spiliani, sunset on pillow lava Welcome aperitif and instructions |
Thursday, 9 June 2022
9.00 | Departure from Mandraki port; bus to view point Ag. Profitis Elias Nikia(Volcanological museum), Caldera and Stefanos crater (short walks, lunch in the field), south rim M. Stavros, return to Mandraki; evening bus to Emborio (north rim), dinner at taverna, late return to Mandraki |
Friday, 10 June 2022
09:00 | Departure from Mandraki port; bus and short walks, volcanology north and east coast (dome collaps): Mandraki – Pali yacht harbor, Cape Katsouni pumice – Afionas tuff cone (lunch in the field), return to Mandraki; afternoon visit to Paleokastro and Museum Mandraki; dinner at Mandraki |
Saturday, 11 June 2022
9.00 | Departure from Mandraki port; boat trip around Nisyros Island (lunch on board), Yali Island, visit of pumice and perlite quarries, late afternoon return to Mandraki; dinner at Mandraki |
Sunday, 12 June 2022
09:00 | Departure of participants |
Participation fee includes:
- Sharing twin room with breakfast in Nisyros 4 nights stay
- Bus Transfers needed (9 June 2022, 10 June 2022)
- Boat trip around Nisiros (11 June 2022)
- Meals: Welcome Aperitif (8 June 2022), Lunch box & Dinner at Emporion (9 June 2022), Lunch at Afionas & Dinner at Mandraki (9 June 2022), Light lunch on board & Dinner at Marndraki (11 June 2022)
- Excursion Guide Booklet
Participation fee does not include:
- Accommodation city taxes per room per night
- WiFi on coach
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Drinks and beverages not mentioned in the program
- Porterage service
- Gratuities (tips are optional)
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance