South Aegean Volcanic Arc

The South Aegean volcanic arc lies at the intersection between Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the cradle of European civilization. Studies over the last decade have transformed our understanding of the arc: subduction architecture and back-arc geodynamics, genesis of the arc magmas, eruption chronology of the arc recorded in marine tephra archives, and hazards posed by eruptions and tsunamis. Santorini is one of the most explosive arc volcanoes in the world, and its ‘Minoan’ eruption of the Late Bronze Age is an iconic event in volcanology and archaeology. Santorini is still dangerous. The Kolumbo submarine crater, best known for its deadly eruption of 1650, today hosts a hydrothermal system and bacterial colonies. In the eastern sector of the arc lies the large submarine caldera formed by the Kos Plateau Tuff eruption. The eruptive mechanisms and petrology of this eruption have now been unraveled, as have the eruptive and magmatic histories of Nisyros and Yali volcanoes on the caldera rim.

Deep Structure and Active Tectonics of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc
Volcanism of the South Aegean Volcanic Arc
Magma Genesis at the South Aegean Volcanic Arc
The Christiana–Santorini–Kolumbo Volcanic Field
Santorini Volcano and Its Plumbing System
The Late Bronze Age Eruption of Santorini Volcano and Its Impact on the Ancient Mediterranean World
The Kos–Kisyros–Yali Volcanic Field

Volume 15, Number 4 (August) • Weathering: A Unifying Process in the Geosciences

GUEST EDITORS: Patrick J. Frings (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany) and Heather Buss (University of Bristol, UK)

This issue will highlight the integral role of weathering processes across a range of geoscience fields. Chemical weathering – the loss of mass by mineral dissolution and export – is key to understanding how Earth’s skin functions. Weathering is the starting point for the biogeochemical cycles of most elements. It determines river and groundwater chemistry and provides nutrients to ecosystems. Weathering alters rock structure and susceptibility to erosion; soil and landscape evolution cannot be understood without considering the role of chemical weathering. Weathering of silicate rocks is a long-term sink for atmospheric CO₂, and has been crucial in maintaining our planet’s habitability over billions of years … and may constitute a geoengineering strategy. The issue will be the state-of-the-art on these topics and will explore the linkages between them.

The Central Role of Weathering in the Geosciences Heather Buss (University of Bristol, UK) and Patrick Frings (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany)
The Goldilocks Planet? How Silicate Weathering Maintains Earth ‘Just Right’ James Kasting (Pennsylvania State University, USA)
How Plants Enhance Weathering and How Weathering is Important to Plants Stephen Porder (Brown University, USA)
Sculpting Earth’s Surface: The Role of Mechanical Weathering Suzanne Anderson (University of Colorado, Boulder, USA)
Combating Climate Change Through Weathering of Agricultural Soils Grace Andrews (Southampton University, UK) and Lyla. L. Taylor (University of Sheffield, UK).
Ice-age Paleoweathering: How do Weathering Rates Vary with Climate Patrick Frings (GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Germany)

June 2019 - Volume 15, Number 3

Table of Contents

Volume 15, Number 4 (August) • Weathering: A Unifying Process in the Geosciences

Thematic Articles