Scientists have uncovered clusters of volcanic vents towering above the seafloor in a region of deep-sea off the coast of Mexico. The so-called “black smoker” vents lie about 7,400 meters (7,900 feet) deep with chimneys reaching 23 meters (75 feet). These
Scientists have a new map of the deepest trench in the world’s deepest ocean. Researchers at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) have pierced the lightless depths of the western Pacific…
In the remote waters of the Indian Ocean, west of Perth, scientists have just discovered two sunken islands, almost the size of Tasmania, which were once part of the supercontinent Gondwana. The islands were found during a three-week voyage to map the seafloor of…
Giant amoebas have been found in the Mariana Trench, the deepest region on Earth.During a July 2011 voyage to the Pacific Ocean’s deepest spot, researchers with Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and National Geographic engineers deployed dropcams,
An underwater volcano West Mata is bursting with glowing lava bubbles. The deepest active submarine eruption seen to date is shedding light on how volcanism can impact deep-sea life and reshape the face of the planet.Submarine eruptions account for about
While warming seas are a leading cause in the decline of the world’s coral reefs, U.S. researchers have discovered cold temperatures can be just as devastating.Scientists are the University of Georgia conducted a study of coral reefs in the Florida Keys following an
An undersea volcano has erupted off the coast of Oregon, spewing forth a layer of lava more than 12 feet (4 meters) thick in some places, and opening up deep vents that belch forth a cloudy stew of hot water and microbes from deep inside the Earth.Scientists uncovered e
The Irish-led VENTuRE scientific expedition aboard the national research vessel RV Celtic Explorer has discovered a previously uncharted field of hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge – the first to be explored north of the Azores. The mission, led by
Runoff from heavy rains, combined with wave action along the coast, increased the turbidity of New Zealand’s waters when this image was acquired on April 29, 2011, according to a NASA statement. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on
Seismic monitoring and centuries of experience have given humankind a pretty good idea of what areas are prone to the devastation of earthquakes and tsunamis. But to truly prepare for huge temblors and accompanying tsunamis like the one that ravaged Japan in March, we
