ATHENS – An international oceanographic seabed survey of the submerged Columbus volcano, a submarine volcano about seven kilometers northeast of Santorini, was launched on Wednesday night at the port of Lavrion and will last until November 27.

The survey is funded by NASA.

The international mission consists of 30 scientists from the US, Greece, Australia and Germany, and is backed by the Greek DP-2 CLV Ocean Link of Maritech International.

NASA’s goal is to test new and “smart” technologies in Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), which in the coming decades are intended to be used to explore extraterrestrial oceans, such as Jupiter’s distant satellites, Enceladus and Europe, where submarine traces of life in extreme, uncharted and potentially dangerous environments will be sought.

The programme, aimed at optimising robotic exploration tools, is carried out with the participation of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute of Massachusetts (led by Dr. Richard Camilli, who is also the head of the mission), the Institute of Technology of the University of Michigan, the University of Sydney, the Department of Geology and Geoenvironment of the University of Athens, and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture of the Hellenic Center for Marine Science.

Assistant Professor at the University of Athens, Paraskevi Nomikou, who is responsible for the Greek participation and played a key role in conducting NASA’s research in Greece, told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA): “The volcano of Columbus presents challenges similar to those of planetary exploration. Although remote-controlled submarines have previously landed in the Columbus Crater, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs and gliders) will be used in this mission to collect oceanographic data due to the complex and potentially dangerous environment.”

On his part, Dr. Camilli said that that “our research programme is focused on testing technologies, in particular autonomous robots, rather than studying volcanoes.” As he said, “although the trials we do at Columbus focus on developing new robotic systems to explore the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, such as Titan, Enceladus and Europe, and we chose Columbus as a representative substitute for these oceans. NASA’s focus is not to study this volcano specifically. Nevertheless, the Greek scientific community and society in general will benefit from an increased understanding of the volcano.”

“Among other things,” he said, “research can help prepare for a volcanic eruption early and protect the marine environment.” He also stressed that “the whole programme is carried out without any Greek or European financial participation” and is funded by NASA.