A COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE KOS-NISYROS-TILOS VOLCANOSEDIMENTARY BASINS


Published: Jan 1, 2010
Keywords:
seabed morphology multibeam systems Kos-Nisyros-Tilos Volcanic field Dodecanese
P. Nomikou
D. Papanikolaou
Abstract
A swath bathymetric map of Kos-Nisyros-Tilos Volcanic field was created with 50m grid interval, with 10 m isobaths at a scale 1:100.000 using SEABEAM 1180 (180 kHz) multibeam system for depths <500m and SEABEAM 2120 (20 kHz) multibeam system for depths >500m. Five basins have been distinguished in the circum-volcanic area of Nisyros: 1)Eastern Kos basin, the larger and deeper one, with an average sea-bottom depth of 630m. Submarine canyons within the basin occur along the southern coastline of Kos cutting the isobaths from 150 up to 400m depth. A shallow crater with relative topography of ±70m has been discovered at the bottom of the basin (600-670m) 2)Western Kos basin with average depth of 520m. The basin is separated from the Eastern Kos Basin by a rise between Yali and Kos at 400m depth. This basin is separated from the Western Nisyros basin by the Kondeliousa rise. 3)The Western Nisyros basin is located between Kondeliousa rise and western Kos platform with depths of 550m. 4)The Southern Nisyros basin constitutes the northern end of the large Karpathos basin which reaches more than 2000m depth towards the south. 5)The Tilos basin with depths of 600m occurs southeast of Nisyros Island, separated from South Nisyros Basin through a rise of less than 400m depth. The Pachia-Pergoussa and Yali-Nisyros basins are shallow structures within the intra-volcanic relief of Nisyros and surrounding islets. The geometrty of each basin is discussed in relation to the volcanic and tectonic structure of the graben between Kos and Tilos.The intensity of the active geodynamic acrtivity is demonstrated by the creation of a volcanic relief of 1400m in the Nisyros volcanic field.
Article Details
  • Section
  • Neotectonics and Geomorphology
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Dalabakis, P., Vougioukalakis, G., 1993. The Kefalos Tuff Ring (W. Kos): depositional mechanisms, vent
position, and model of the evolution of the eruptive activity. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece, 28, 259–273.
Nomikou, P. and Papanikolaou, D., 2000. Active Geodynamics at Nisyros, the eastern edge of the Aegean
Volcanic Arc: emphasis on submarine surveys. Proceedings of the 3rd Int. Conf. Geology East
Mediterranean, Sept. 1998, 97–103.
Nomikou, P., Papanikolaou, D., Alexandri, S., Ballas, D., 2004. New insights on the Kos–Nisyros volcanic
field from the morphotectonic analysis of the swath bathymetric map. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer. Medit.
, 60.
Nomikou, P., 2004. Geodynamic of Dodecanese islands: Kos and Nisyros volcanic field. PhD Thesis,
University of Athens, Department of Geology.
Papanikolaou, D., Lekkas, E.L., Sakelariou, D., 1991. Volcanic stratigraphy and evolution of the Nisyros
volcano. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece, 25, 405–419.
Papanikolaou, D., and collaborators, 1998. Monitoring of Seismic Activity along the Aegean Volcanic Arc:
with focus on the eastern part of the arc in Kοs and mainly Nisyros Islands. Newsletter of the European
Centre on Prevention and Forecasting of Earthquakes, 2, 10-35.
Papanikolaou, D. and Nomikou, P., 2001. Tectonic structure and volcanic centres at the eastern edge of
the Aegean Volcanic Arc around Nisyros Island. Bull. Geol. Soc. Greece, XXXIV/1, 289-296.
Pe-Piper, G., Piper, D.J.W., Perissoratis, C., 2005. Neotectonics of the Kos Plateau Tuff eruption of 161
ka, South Aegean Sea. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 139, 315–338.
Tibaldi, A., Pasquarè, F.A., Papanikolaou, D., Nomikou P., 2008. Discovery of a huge sector collapse at
the Nisyros volcano, Greece, by on-land and offshore geological-structural data. J. Volcanol. Geotherm.
Res. 177, 485-499.
Most read articles by the same author(s)