Understanding the Seismic Dance: Santorini's Earthquake Swarm Explained

Sun Nov 23 2025 05:20:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Scientists reveal the cause behind the unprecedented swarm of earthquakes in Santorini, uncovering the role of magma movement beneath the Earth's crust.

A recent study revealed that the over 25,000 earthquakes experienced near Santorini earlier this year were triggered by the movement of molten rock through an underground channel. Utilizing advanced physics and AI, researchers created a model to understand the complex interplay of seismic events and magma dynamics. Despite the cessation of tremors for now, the findings indicate a potential for future volcanic activity and enhance predictive models for monitoring seismic events worldwide.

Understanding the Seismic Dance: Santorini's Earthquake Swarm Explained

The swarm of tens of thousands of earthquakes near the Greek island of Santorini earlier this year was triggered by molten rock pumping through an underground channel over three months, scientists have discovered.

Applying physics and artificial intelligence, researchers determined that over 25,000 earthquakes traveled about 20km (12 miles) horizontally through the Earth's crust.

Dr. Stephen Hicks from UCL noted that this combination of analytical techniques could aid in the forecasting of future volcanic eruptions.

What Happened in Santorini?

Seismic unrest began beneath the Greek islands of Santorini, Amorgos, and Anafi in January 2025, with tens of thousands of tremors, many exceeding a magnitude of 5.0. These tremors sparked fears of an imminent eruption from the nearby Kolumbo volcano and drew concerns reminiscent of the devastating magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1956.

The research team, publishing their findings in the journal Science, created a 3D model of the Earth's structure surrounding Santorini. By mapping the evolving patterns of seismic activity, they developed a detailed model showing the underlying causes of the seismic swarm.

The study revealed that magma was moving horizontally from beneath Santorini and the Kolumbo volcano through a channel that lies over 30km deep beneath the seafloor. The volume of magma displaced was projected to match that of 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools, causing many of the reported tremors.

Anthony Lomax, the lead author of the study, stated, The tremors act as if we had instruments deep in the Earth, and they're telling us something... The patterns we observe align closely with our expectations for magma movement.

Does This Mean the Santorini Unrest is Over?

Currently, the researchers believe that the seismic activity has subsided. Dr. Hicks explained that although magma can rise to the surface rapidly, the cooling activity suggests it has settled deep within the crust.

However, the unpredictability of volcanic activity remains; prolonged periods of unrest can occur, as shown by recent events in Iceland. The integration of AI with fundamental geophysical principles could revolutionize how volcanic activity is monitored, contributing significantly to public safety in seismically active regions.

Dr. Hicks emphasized the importance of this research for forecasting potential future eruptions: Whenever we see a cluster of earthquakes, that is data that can be used to work out the most likely cause.