Scientists working on a research ship in the Arctic Ocean may have discovered a giant underwater volcano. according to IndependentThe crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy was working on a project to map the ocean floor off the coast of Alaska when they discovered a new volcano-like formation deep in the ocean waters. The volcano-like structure is located more than 1,600 meters above the water surface and scientists have detected possible gas plumes from it. However, since the structure is still underwater, it poses no threat to people on land.
Captain Meghan McGovern of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said, “These findings are exciting and provide insight into what may exist beneath the surface of the ocean, much of which is unknown in this region. ” Independent,
The cutter Healy is the Coast Guard’s only icebreaker designed to support research. The research teams included members of the National Science Foundation, the University of New Hampshire, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The recent voyage was part of a larger project called the Alaska Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study, which was enacted to evaluate the need to establish vessel routing measures. The real purpose of the mission was to ensure that ships using these waters avoided collisions with other ships or underwater hazards.
Healy has since returned to Seattle, Washington. It departed Washington in June for an Arctic deployment.
“It is an honor to support such diverse research missions in the northern high latitudes while working toward enhancing navigation safety in a region where soundings are rare,” said Captain Michelle Shalip, Healy’s commanding officer.
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“As scientific interest in the Arctic Ocean Basin grows, Healy is on the front lines providing access to the scientific community facilitating Arctic research opportunities while inspiring future chief scientists. Our team is committed to ensuring That we are prepared to meet the unique challenges of operating “in an austere environment to see these critical missions accomplished,” he said.
According to the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration, underwater volcanoes, also known as submarine volcanoes or seamounts, do not produce spectacular eruptive events like some of their land counterparts, but undersea volcanic activity is a There is a continuous process that shapes the characteristics of the ocean. Some oceanographers estimate that there may be more than a million volcanoes on the floor of the Pacific Ocean alone – about 750 times the number on dry land.
