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 29 August 2008 19:36 BST

Underwater eruption captured for first time

Friday, 24 Nov 2006 12:13
Scientists captured the eruption in the Pacific Ocean

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Scientists managed to capture an underwater volcanic eruption for the first time by fortuitously being in the right place at the right time.

A group of scientists visited a site in the Pacific Ocean 400 miles west of Mexico without realising that an eruption had just occurred.

The undersea volcanic area had been selected for research as part of the National Science's Foundation's Ridge research programme and as such numerous instruments were in place on the ocean floor.

When the scientists attempted to retrieve seismometors from the seafloor, only four rose to the surface.

Intrigued as to why the remaining number refused to come up, the researchers used onboard equipment to measure temperature, salinity and turbidity near the ocean bottom.

They found that the water was unusually cloudy and warm above the ridge crest, indicating that an eruption could have occurred.

Tests on ocean floor lava revealed that it had formed very recently and deep-diving cameras revealed "brand new black glassy lava" and a lack of ocean life.

Mike Perfit, a professor at the site from the University of Florida, said: "Never before have we had instruments in place like this that recorded an eruptive event on the seafloor. We'll be lucky if we catch another event like this in my lifetime. It really revitalizes the field."

He added that the instruments had allowed an unprecedented view of the "death and birth of a mid-ocean ridge from all perspectives – geological, biological, geophysical".End of story


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