Structural control and depth clustering of extensive hydrothermal venting on the shelf of Milos Island
High-resolution geophysical surveys, complemented by chemical, physical, and visual data collected via the ROV MARUM-SQUID, revealed a previously undocumented intermediate-depth hydrothermal vent field (30-230 m) on the shelf of Milos Island, Greece. Three primary vent areas-Aghia Kiriaki, Paleochori-Thiorychia, and Vani-are aligned with ENE-WSW and NW-SE trending active faults, which define the SE coast of Milos and the Milos Gulf-Fyriplaka graben, deepening the Milos shelf up to 230 m. All areas exhibit a distinct bimodal vent distribution, with peaks at ~ 130 m and ~ 180 m; the Paleochori-Thiorychia region additionally hosts a cluster near 210 m. Shallow vents occur on flat, sandy substrates with white microbial mats and gas emissions, whereas deeper vents feature extensive microbial mats, CO₂-degassing chimneys, and actively boiling fluids exceeding 180 °C, indicative of persistent hydrothermal activity. Although the cause of the bimodal -and, in one case, trimodal-distribution remains uncertain, our findings offer a comprehensive, high-resolution characterization of the spatial distribution, morphology, and fluid characteristics of intermediate-depth hydrothermal venting on the Milos shelf.
Authors
- Andrea Koschinsky (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9224-0663)
- Paraskevi Nomikou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8842-9730)
- Marcus Elvert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3863-0975)
- Clemens Röttgen
- Evgenia Bazhenova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8092-702X)
- Charlotte Kleint (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8594-3304)
- Enno Schefuß (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5960-930X)
- Eva-Maria Meckel
- Wolfgang Bach (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3099-7142)
- Dimitrios Papanikolaou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2885-0598)
- Konstantina Bejelou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4306-9919)
- Stephanos Kilias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5192-7039)
- Eirini Anagnostou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1678-4770)
- Christian dos Santos Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3228-7862)
- Michael Seidel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0934-1939)
- Danai Lampridou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6567-508X)
- Jianlin Liao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5504-3487)
- E. Kurahashi
- Karsten M. Haase (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4768-5978)
- Solveig I Bühring (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4378-5314)
- Joely Maak (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6111-582X)
- Ignacio Pedre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4339-5404)
- Palash Kumawat
- Sotiria Kothri
- Effrosyni Varotsou
- Alissa Bach
- Areti Belka
- Wiebke Lehmann
Institutions
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (DE)
- Hochschule Bremen (DE)
- University of Bremen (DE)
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-11-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-26398-y
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.86
Funders
- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst