Tag

Underwater Volcanoes

All articles tagged with #underwater volcanoes

science1 month ago•13 min saved

Robots Map Giant Lava Fields on Pacific Volcano, Hinting at Ancient Caldera Collapses

Scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have identified three massive lava flow fields on Axial Seamount, an active underwater volcano in the Pacific. Using autonomous and remotely operated vehicles over two decades, researchers mapped these 'voluminous inflated lobate flows,' which are up to 100 times larger than typical eruptions. The findings suggest these flows drained magma from the volcano's summit, potentially causing caldera collapses roughly every 12,000 years.

via The Times of India|

#axial-seamount #lava-flows #mbari

science2 years ago•3 min saved

"Unprecedented Gravitational Anomalies Uncover Massive Seamount Surpassing World's Tallest Building"

Researchers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel have discovered four massive seamounts in the deep sea off the coast of South America, with the tallest rising more than 8,000 feet from the ocean floor, making it three times taller than the Burj Khalifa. These extinct underwater volcanoes create gravitational anomalies that can be detected by satellites, and they are considered important marine habitats due to their ability to attract diverse marine life. The discovery is part of the Seabed 2030 project, which aims to map the world's seafloor by the end of the decade.

via Space.com|

#gravitational-anomalies #marine-biology #ocean-exploration

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Massive Dinosaur-Era Volcanic Superstructure Discovered in Pacific Ocean"

Scientists have discovered a massive volcanic superstructure, the Melanesian Border Plateau, the size of Idaho beneath the Pacific Ocean, formed by four distinct periods of volcanic eruptions over 100 million years ago. This structure, larger than Idaho, is still growing and contains rare elements used in technology and medical devices. The research sheds light on the forces that shaped the Earth and may provide insight into its future, while also suggesting that similar oceanic mid-plate superstructures likely exist in the South Pacific.

via Daily Mail|

#geological-research #melanesian-border-plateau #pacific-ocean

science-and-environment2 years ago•2 min saved

Unveiling the Secrets of the Antarctic Ocean Floor: Ancient Volcanoes and Strong Currents Mapped

High-resolution maps of the seafloor in the Southern Ocean have revealed a chain of underwater volcanoes that may be influencing ocean currents and contributing to ice melt and sea level rise in Antarctica. The volcanoes, located 13,000 feet below the waves, are in the path of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which acts as a barrier to keep Antarctica frozen. The new maps could help predict how the leak in the barrier will evolve as oceans warm due to climate change. Mapping the Southern Ocean will provide insights into ice melt and sea level rise in Antarctica.

via Livescience.com|

#antarctic-circumpolar-current #climate-change #ocean-currents

science2 years ago•3 min saved

Unveiling Earth's Hidden Mountain Range in the Strongest Ocean Current

An ancient mountain range, including eight dormant underwater volcanoes, has been discovered in the Southern Ocean above the world's strongest ocean current. The discovery was made by researchers studying the Antarctic circumpolar current to understand its impact on rising sea levels. The underwater mountain range, located between Tasmania and Antarctica, lies 13,100 feet below the surface and likely formed 20 million years ago. The findings are crucial for understanding ocean dynamics and the role of seafloor features in influencing the current's flow and heat transfer. The discovery was made possible by high-resolution satellite imaging of the seafloor.

via Newsweek|

#antarctic-circumpolar-current #hidden-mountain-range #ocean-dynamics

science-and-environment2 years ago•2 min saved

"Seafloor Mapping Team Discovers Massive Find in Pacific Ocean"

A seafloor mapping project in the Pacific Ocean has discovered a massive seamount, twice as high as the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The 5,249-foot-high seamount covers 5.4 square miles and is located 1.5 miles below sea level in international waters. Seamounts are underwater mountains that serve as "oases of life," hosting deep sea corals, sponges, and various invertebrates. This discovery highlights the vast unexplored areas of the ocean and the potential for further scientific exploration.

via Yahoo News|

#marine-biodiversity #pacific-ocean #science-and-environment

science2 years ago•10 min saved

"Unraveling Undersea Volcanoes: A Scientist's Journey with Surprising Connections to Taylor Swift"

Jackie Caplan-Auerbach, a volcanologist and seismologist, studies the earthquakes produced by underwater volcanoes to understand the Earth's interior. By analyzing the seismic activity, she hopes to gain insights into the physics behind volcanic eruptions and mitigate the impacts of future disasters. Caplan-Auerbach uses hydrophones to listen to the sounds of volcanic activity and has even analyzed the seismic waves generated by Taylor Swift concerts. She believes that studying underwater volcanoes reveals the extraordinary happenings underwater and highlights the importance of physics in understanding the natural world.

via Quanta Magazine|

#earthquakes #science #seismology

science-and-environment3 years ago•3 min saved

Underwater Volcanoes and Sunken Ship Unearthed off Sicily

Scientists conducting an expedition in the Mediterranean Sea have discovered three large underwater volcanoes and the wreckage of a sunken ship measuring over 300 feet in length. Using sonar techniques, magnetometers, and high-resolution seismic techniques, the researchers were able to identify the previously unknown volcanoes off the southern coast of Sicily. The volcanoes are part of a series of volcanic cones discovered in 2019. The team also collected rock samples for analysis to understand the age and characteristics of the volcanoes. The research has also revealed errors in existing bathymetric maps of the region, emphasizing the importance of high-resolution mapping for navigation safety, cable laying, risk assessment, coastal evolution analysis, and marine ecosystem protection.

via Newsweek|

#geological-research #mediterranean-sea #science-and-environment

environment3 years ago•1 min saved

Underwater Volcanoes: A Potential Solution for Carbon Capture

An extinct underwater volcano off the coast of Portugal could store up to 8.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide using a method called "in situ mineral carbonization." The process involves pumping CO2 deep underground, where it reacts with calcium, magnesium, and iron to form calcite, dolomite, and magnesite, trapping the CO2 in rock. The Fontanelas volcano's structure and composition make it an ideal location for the process, and existing data suggests that other undersea volcanoes could also be used as CO2 landfills.

via Good News Network|

#carbon-capture #climate-change #environment

science3 years ago•2 min saved

Uncovering the Seafloor Leak at Cascadia Fault.

Scientists have discovered a seafloor leak, named Pythia's Oasis, 50 miles off the Oregon coast, which has been active for about 1,500 years. The leak is linked to the Cascadia fault line, but it is not a sign of an imminent earthquake. The warm, mineral-rich fluid spewing out of a 2-inch-diameter vent more than 3,000 feet beneath ocean waves is not a cold methane seep or a hydrothermal vent. Instead, it offers a unique window into the inaccessible world under the seafloor where tectonic plates meet.

via OregonLive|

#cascadia-fault #oceanography #pythias-oasis