AI Unravels the Cause of the Earthquake Swarm in Santorini
At the beginning of 2025, the Greek island of Santorini—famous for its breathtaking views and volcanic history—was shaken by an intense swarm of earthquakes. Schools were closed, evacuation plans were activated, and thousands of residents temporarily left the island as experts debated whether the tremors signaled a major earthquake or an imminent volcanic eruption. While scientists ultimately classified the activity as an earthquake swarm, questions lingered.
Amid this scientific uncertainty, researchers turned to artificial intelligence to analyze the phenomenon with unprecedented precision. By processing data from roughly 25,000 earthquakes recorded over eight weeks, they discovered that the swarm was triggered by magma moving horizontally deep beneath the Earth’s crust. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Science.
AI DETECTED WHAT CONVENTIONAL TOOLS MISSED
Santorini has long been associated with dramatic geological events. One of the most catastrophic eruptions in human history—the Minoan Eruption around 1620 BCE—occurred here. More recently, in 1956, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake caused widespread devastation.
Although the 2025 tremors were not nearly as severe, 48 earthquakes above magnitude 4.5 were recorded, prompting authorities to investigate whether the activity was volcanic or tectonic in origin. Traditional seismic tools, however, are limited to detecting surface-level vibrations, making it difficult to understand deeper processes.
This is where machine learning came in. AI systems were able to isolate even the faintest microquakes, creating a comprehensive seismic dataset. This allowed researchers to map movement occurring roughly 15 kilometers below the surface and about 50 kilometers northeast of Santorini.
MAGMA MOVING IN WAVES TRIGGERED THE SWARM
By examining the spatial pattern of the quakes, scientists concluded that the swarm was caused by magma spreading laterally from an underwater magma chamber. Lead author and independent seismologist Anthony Lomax highlighted that the movement was far from steady:
“Magma advanced in pulses—opening new cracks, closing others, and increasing pressure with each step, which in turn triggered more earthquakes.”
Satellite observations enabled researchers to estimate the volume of magma involved. Reports indicate it was large enough to fill 200,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. However, the necessary upward pressure for an eruption never materialized, preventing a volcanic event.
This study not only sheds light on the Santorini earthquake swarm but also underscores the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in deciphering complex geophysical processes.
