home » Thing » Underwater volcanoes are an oasis in the deep sea world. Underwater volcanoes

Underwater volcanoes are an oasis in the deep sea world. Underwater volcanoes

UNDERWATER VOLCANOES

The work was completed by: Kuznetsova Anna 4 “B” class GBOU secondary school No. 491 with in-depth study of mathematics Classroom teacher: Kondratyeva Maria Vladimirovna. St. Petersburg 2013

Scientists have long studied almost all volcanoes located on land, but underwater geological formations that periodically erupt lava flows have not been studied so well. Underwater volcanoes, hidden from public view under a thick layer of water, annually erupt 12-15 times more magma than land-based volcanoes. To date, more than a thousand underwater volcanoes have been discovered, but scientists have no doubt that this is just a small part of all the volcanoes lurking at the bottom of the oceans.

Externally, underwater volcanoes are conical-shaped hills hidden under water with a round or oval base and steep slopes. Often such volcanoes are located as part of large massifs. The tops of some underwater volcanoes protrude slightly above the water, forming small islands. If the volcanic cone was formed from loose products of the eruption, such as ash and slag, then the areas of land protruding among the expanses of the ocean are quickly washed away by water and disappear. In the event of a powerful eruption of a large amount of lava, a more durable volcanic cone is formed - in this case, an underground volcano comes to the surface and continues its active activity, constantly increasing in size. Underwater volcanoes, extinct after reaching the surface, turn into volcanic islands. Volcanoes that are extinct underwater form massifs of seamounts.

Underwater volcano. 1 - cloud of steam, 2 - water, 3 - layer of rock, 4 - layers of lava and ash, 5 - magma channel, 6 - magma chamber, 7 - lava. Underwater volcano. 1 - cloud of steam, 2 - water, 3 - layer of rock, 4 - layers of lava and ash, 5 - magma channel, 6 - magma chamber, 7 - lava.

There are several types of underwater volcanic eruptions. Sometimes liquid lava emerges underwater, and volcanic ash and pumice come to the surface. In other cases, an underwater volcanic eruption is accompanied by a strong explosion and a powerful release of gases. Many eruptions that have occurred on great depth, go unnoticed - the ejected magma quickly cools, turning into volcanic glass. On great depths water does not allow steam and gases to escape to the surface. Such eruptions can only be recorded using deep-sea vehicles. Sometimes evidence of the activation of an underwater volcano can be discoloration of the water surface. Volcanic eruptions at shallow depths are visualized by the release of columns of steam above the water surface. The location of underwater volcanoes is often recorded by satellites that monitor temperature of the aquatic environment.

Hunga Tonga. The underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai, or Hunga-Tonga for short, is located at the bottom Pacific Ocean off the coast of the Tonga Islands in Polynesia. The volcano is located in an area with increased seismic activity right at the junction of lithospheric plates. The last eruption occurred on March 18, 2009 - the underwater volcano exploded with incredible force, sending columns of smoke hundreds of meters above the ocean.

Underwater volcanoes in Antarctica. Scientists recently discovered 12 previously unknown underwater volcanoes in Antarctica. From 2007 to 2010 researchers studied the bottom topography near the South Sandwich Islands. Scientists managed to record the location of 12 volcanoes, seven of which are already protruding above the water surface. The height of some of the found volcanoes reaches 3 kilometers. Seven of the twelve volcanoes are active.

Kawachi. Kavachi is considered one of the most active underwater volcanoes. It is located near the Solomon Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. Its peak is at a depth of 20 meters. The first eruption was recorded in 1939, since then the volcano has risen above sea level and sank under water several times. In 2003, the top of the volcano rose 15 meters above sea level, however, as soon as the island was formed, it quickly disappeared under water. The last eruption of the Kavachi submarine volcano occurred in 2007.

Medzin. 450 kilometers from Tokyo in the area of the Izu Islands is the Medjin volcano, the peak of which is located at a depth of 50 meters. The activity of this underwater volcano has been recorded since 1869 - since then, eruptions of varying power have occurred periodically.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Eruptions of underwater volcanoes are often invisible to us, but they have a much greater impact on the Earth's climate and topography than terrestrial ones: they cause tsunamis and earthquakes.

Most active volcanoes are located at the junction of tectonic plates in the so-called oceanic ridges. These ridges pass for the most part deep under water (3-4 km), so most eruptions are not visible to humans. And it is often impossible to notice the eruption that has occurred using acoustic equipment. This is due to the fact that at great depths, when magma is released into cold water, it immediately cools down, turning into volcanic glass, so it does not boil, so it is almost impossible to hear it.

There are much more underwater volcanoes on Earth than “land” ones - 32 thousand versus 1.5 thousand - but they have been studied much less well due to their inaccessibility. So, Italy lives on a powder keg. The country could suffer greatly if the underwater volcano Marsili erupts. It may be caused by the collapse of the volcano's walls, which scientists consider too fragile. The structure of the volcano is not solid, and the amount of lava in it is quite large. The eruption will inevitably cause a powerful tsunami that will flood the southern regions of the country - Campania, Calabria and Sicily.

The Marsili volcano is located 90 km southwest of Naples. The height of the volcano is 3 thousand m, the length is 70 km, and the width is 30 km. The Marsili crater is located at a depth of 450 m from the surface of the Tyrrhenian Sea. True, Italians are reassured by the fact that there was no information about Marsili eruptions in previous centuries.

Earth's Ring of Fire

The largest number of underwater volcanoes are located in the so-called Pacific volcanic ring of fire, which is more than 40 thousand km long and is shaped like a horseshoe. The Earth's Ring of Fire runs from the Kamchatka Peninsula through the Kuril, Japanese and Philippine Islands, Eastern Indonesia and New Zealand, then through Antarctica along the South and North America and ends in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The ring has 328 active volcanoes, which is 75% of the world's total. It contains the most restless volcanoes, characterized by a violent temperament and changing their growth several times a year - they either increase in size or decrease after explosions.

Time bomb

Scientists believe that underwater volcanoes not only provoke destructive tsunamis, but in the future they can significantly change the entire marine ecosystem of our planet, significantly raising its temperature, as well as increasing the concentration of sulfur and carbon dioxide. Thus, Dr. Jason Hall-Spencer says that in the event of large-scale oceanic volcanic eruptions, as happened in the past, our planet could lose up to 30% of marine biodiversity.
“Underwater volcanoes constantly emit bubbles of gases, oxidizing all nearby regions, we see that there is no representatives of marine flora or fauna near the volcanoes,” he says. The scientist believes that underwater volcanoes can be compared to a kind of time machine that can very quickly have the same effect that global warming has on the oceans.

Volcanologists say that they studied the work of underwater volcanoes in different parts planet, in particular near the Californian coast in the Pacific Ocean, near northern Europe in the Atlantic Ocean and near Australia. All volcanoes, as it turns out, have a deadly effect on the surrounding living world.
According to Hall-Spencer, the oceans already absorb about 50% of all greenhouse gas emissions, which could lead to a decline in biodiversity of about 30-35% by 2100. The scientist notes that the last time such conditions in the oceans were on our planet was about 55 million years ago, but then the oxidation process took 10 thousand years, and restoration took more than 125 thousand years, another 10 million years were required for evolution sea creatures to adapt to new features of the environment. So, the predicted apocalypse can be brought not by a cosmic body, but by an earthly underwater volcano.

Volcanoes Sea of Azov

It is known that quite a lot of underwater, or rather, mud volcanoes are located in the Sea of Azov. Most of them are located in the area of the Taman Peninsula and the Kerch Strait. The eruption of a mud volcano usually lasts several days and is accompanied by an earthquake and a powerful underground roar. What is happening is reminiscent of a science fiction film about the end of the world: springs boil and stream from underground, the seabed rises above the surface of the water. In just a few hours, before the eyes of a shocked crowd, a small island is formed in the Sea of Azov. A piece of earth weighing hundreds of tons rises 2-5 m from the bottom. However, as a rule, it is washed away by waves within a few months.

The Golubitsky volcano is well known, which erupts quite often - the last eruption was here in 2008. The Golubitskaya Bank (an underwater rise in the sea) connects with the Temryuk Bank. These banks are well described in the Azov Sea sailing guide. It contains warnings to navigators about active volcanoes and the possibility of the emergence of islands that are dangerous for navigation: ships risk running aground, which has happened several times in history.

The mud volcanoes themselves are complex, in many ways still mysterious phenomenon. Its immediate cause is oil and gas content. When created in the bowels of the earth, due to tectonic processes, anomalously high pressures flammable gases, the latter break through the overlying layers of clayey deposits and carry clayey material, rock fragments, deep and surface water to the surface. As a rule, gases move upward along tectonic faults in solid rocks. According to various authors, the depths of mud volcanoes range from 5 to 10 km. Their deep location makes them very interesting for research, because each mud volcano brings out a wide variety of material from the depths. Such volcanoes are free deep wells that provide geologists with information about the structure of the Earth.

Unfortunately, scientists do not yet have the opportunity to constantly observe underwater volcanoes, so they will remain a mystery to researchers for a long time.

Prepared by Anna Popenko,
based on materials

Events

A huge volcano, comparable in size to the British Isles, was discovered at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Tamu Massif is located in 1.5 thousand kilometers from the coast of Japan along Shatsky hills. The top of the massif is at a depth of about 2 thousand meters, and reaches a length of about 650 kilometers.

After studying rock samples, scientists from University of Houston suggested that this huge mountain is actually a volcano that formed the mountains of the Shatsky Upland 130-145 million years ago. Most likely, this is the largest volcano in solar system, is even inferior in width to it Mount Olympus on Mars.

The Tamu massif is the largest part of the Shatsky Upland, which was formed after the eruption of several underwater volcanoes. Until now, researchers were not sure whether Tamu was a single volcano or a group of volcanoes.

Scientists studied samples and collected radar data, after which they were able to prove that huge mass of basalt, which makes up the mountain, erupted from a single source near the center. There is now no doubt that the Tamu massif is today largest single volcano planet Earth.

The Tammu massif differs from other underwater volcanoes not only in size, but also unusual shape . It is quite flat and wide, which suggests that the lava flows must have traveled much longer distances during the eruption compared to flows of other volcanoes. Most underwater volcanoes are mainly small and cool.

The Tammu massif covers an area 310,800 square kilometers, that is, approximately equal to the area of Great Britain. Scientists believe it formed around 145 million years ago, however, went extinct several million years after that.

The largest volcanoes in the world

Mauna Loa . This volcano is located in Hawaii and was still considered the largest volcano on the planet by volume. Its volume together with the underwater part is 80 thousand cubic kilometers. Mountain height above sea level – 4169 meters. The volcano is active and last erupted in 1984.

Ojos del Salado . This volcano, located in the Chilean Andes, is the highest volcano on the planet. Its height is 6893 meters above sea level. No eruptions were recorded in the history of observation, but minor emissions of sulfur and steam were still observed throughout 20th century. The Incas revered this volcano as sacred, leaving many sacrificial altars on it.

Climbers first summited the Ojos del Salado volcano in 1937, and 70 years later a Chilean Gonzalo Bravo managed to climb onto it in an SUV to a height 6688 meters. This is a record height to which the car managed to rise.

Llullaillaco . Another Andes volcano that has a height 6739 meters above sea level. This is the highest active volcano in a world that was last observed to erupt in 1877.

Mount Olympus on Mars . This Martian volcano is not as wide as the Tammu Massif, its width is about 600 kilometers, however, the total mass of this volcano is about 25% greater than the mass of Tamu. This mountain is considered the highest in the solar system: its height is 21.2 kilometers from the base.

Kilimanjaro - the highest volcano in Africa, whose height 5895 meters above sea level. Located in Tanzania. This volcano has not erupted in the history of observations, however 150-200 years ago its volcanic activity was mentioned.

Recently, scientists have been concerned that Kilimanjaro's glaciers are rapidly melting. There were reports that the ice cap of the mountain's peak had almost completely disappeared. The last time this happened was 11 thousand years ago.

Elbrus . highest peak Russia, the largest volcano in the country. Located in the Caucasus on the border Kabardino-Balkaria And Karachay-Cherkessia. This volcano is also called the most high mountain in Europe. The height of the volcano is maximum 5642 meters above sea level. Last time Elbrus erupted around 2 thousand years ago- in 50 AD.

Underwater volcano- a type of volcano. These volcanoes are located on the ocean floor.

Most modern volcanoes are located within three main volcanic belts: Pacific, Mediterranean-Indonesian and Atlantic. As evidenced by the results of studying the geological past of our planet, underwater volcanoes are significantly larger than volcanoes on land in terms of their scale and volume of ejection products coming from the bowels of the Earth. If on land every year out of 20-30 volcanic eruptions receives on average up to one and a half cubic kilometers of molten magma per year, then during the same time 12-15 times more material is erupted from underwater volcanoes.

Life in surface waters ocean, which determines the volume of greenhouse gases absorbed by the ocean, is supported by the activity of underwater volcanoes.

: Incorrect or missing image

There is not enough information in this section.

Underwater volcanic eruptions

If there is a body of water above the volcanic source, during the eruption the pyroclastic material is saturated with water and spreads around the source. This type of deposit, first described in the Philippines, was formed by an eruption of Taal Volcano, located at the bottom of the lake; they are often represented by thin, wavy layers of pumice. As a result of the activity of underwater volcanoes, islands can form, for example, Reunion, a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean.

Write a review about the article "Underwater Volcano"

An excerpt characterizing the Underwater Volcano

Suddenly, the fabulous Star Bridge unfolded right in front of her. Stretching out, it seemed, into infinity, it sparkled and sparkled with endless clusters of large and small stars, spreading out at her feet like a silver road. In the distance, in the very middle of the same road, completely shrouded in a golden glow, a Man was waiting for Magdalene... He was very tall and looked very strong. Coming closer, Magdalena saw that not everything in this unprecedented creature was so “human”... What struck him most were his eyes - huge and sparkling, as if carved from gemstone, they sparkled with cold edges, like a real diamond. But just like a diamond, they were insensitive and aloof... The stranger’s courageous facial features surprised with their sharpness and immobility, as if a statue stood in front of Magdalene... Very long, voluminous hair sparkled and shimmered with silver, as if someone had accidentally scattered stars on them... The “man” was, indeed, very unusual... But even with all his “icy” coldness, Magdalena clearly felt how wonderful came from the strange stranger , enveloping the soul with peace and warmth, sincere kindness. Only for some reason she knew for sure that this kindness was not always the same to everyone.
The “man” raised his palm facing her in greeting and said affectionately:
– Stop, Star... Your Path is not over yet. You can't go Home. Return to Midgard, Maria... And take care of the Key of the Gods. May Eternity protect you.
And then, the powerful figure of the stranger suddenly began to slowly oscillate, becoming completely transparent, as if about to disappear.
- Who are you?.. Please tell me who you are?! – Magdalena shouted pleadingly.
- Wanderer... You will meet me again. Goodbye, Star...
Suddenly the wondrous crystal slammed shut... The miracle ended as unexpectedly as it began. Everything around immediately became chilly and empty... As if it was winter outside.
– What was that, Radomir?! This is much more than we were taught!.. – Magdalena asked in shock without taking her eyes off the green “stone”.
“I just opened it a little.” So you can see. But this is just a grain of sand of what he can do. Therefore, you must keep it, no matter what happens to me. At any cost... including your life, and even the lives of Vesta and Svetodar.
Staring at her with his piercing blue eyes, Radomir persistently waited for an answer. Magdalene nodded slowly.
- He punished this... Wanderer...
Radomir just nodded, clearly understanding who she was talking about.
– For thousands of years, people have been trying to find the Key of the Gods. But no one knows what he really looks like. And they don’t know its meaning,” Radomir continued much softer. – There are the most incredible legends about him, some are very beautiful, others are almost crazy.

(It’s true that there are various wonderful legends about the Key of the Gods. In what languages have they not tried to paint the largest emeralds for centuries!.. In Arabic, Jewish, Hindu and even Latin... But for some reason no one wants to understand that this will not make the stones magical, no matter how much someone wants it... The proposed photographs show: the Iranian pseudo Mani, and the Great Mogul, and the Catholic “talisman” of God, and the Emerald “tablet” of Hermes (Emeral tablet) and even the famous Indian Cave of Apollo from Tiana, which, according to the Hindus themselves, was once visited by Jesus Christ (You can read more about this in the book “The Holy Country of Daaria”, which is currently being written. Part 1. What did the Gods know?))

As evidenced by the results of studying the geological past of our planet, underwater volcanoes are significantly larger than volcanoes on land in terms of their scale and volume of ejection products coming from the bowels of the Earth. If on land annually from 20-30 volcanic eruptions an average of up to one and a half cubic kilometers of molten magma per year comes in, then during the same time 12-15 times more material is erupted from underwater volcanoes.

Life in the surface waters of the ocean, on which the volume of greenhouse gases absorbed by the ocean depends, is supported by the activity of underwater volcanoes.

This happens because underwater volcanoes supply phytoplankton with iron compounds necessary for photosynthesis. This is stated in an article by American scientists in the journal Nature Geoscience. Iron particles - necessary element for most food chains - very rare in surface ocean waters. Previously, it was believed that they get there mainly with the waters of rivers and streams. Scientists from the University of Minnesota (USA) have proven that most of the iron necessary for phytoplankton can come to the surface from the very bottom.

Earlier scientists [ Who?] it was believed that most of the iron emitted by underwater volcanoes settles at the bottom in inorganic form. Using remotely operated deep-sea vehicles, the researchers collected particle samples from different volcanically active regions of the Pacific Ocean. Volcanoes create so-called hydrothermal jets - the water in them reaches a temperature of several hundred degrees, but due to the enormous pressure it does not turn into steam. These hydrothermal plumes contain a large number of dissolved substances, including iron ions.