Satellites reveal 19,000 previously unknown undersea volcanoes around the world
Satellites reveal 19,000 previously unknown undersea volcanoes around the world - photo from unsplash
A recent study conducted by oceanographers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in collaboration with researchers from Chungnam National University and the University of Hawaii revealed more than 19,000 undersea volcanoes or seamounts in the world's oceans that were previously unknown.
19 thousand seamounts
Scientists succeeded in mapping 19,000 previously unknown seamounts around the world, using radar satellite data.
In their paper, published in the journal Earth and Space Science, the scientists describe how they used radar satellite data to measure seawater mounds to find and map undersea volcanoes, explaining why doing so is so important.
Volcanic eruption
Oceanographers explained that, like dry land masses, the ocean floor is characterized by a variety of terrain, and as with land, the features that really stand out are mountains, and in the ocean they are called seamounts, and they can be formed by tectonic plates jostling Each other and folds occur, or through the eruption of volcanoes that occur cones.
Mapping a quarter of the sea floor
Only a quarter of the seafloor has currently been mapped, which means no one knows exactly how many seamounts there are, or where they might be.
According to scientists, not knowing where the seamounts are is another problem that prevents oceanographers from creating models that depict how ocean waters (currents) flow around the world.
Discover the largest number of seamounts
In this new work, the research team set themselves the task of discovering and mapping as many seamounts as possible, and to do so, they used data from radar satellites.
Such satellites cannot see seamounts, of course. Instead, they measure the height of the sea surface, which shifts due to changes in gravity associated with the topography of the sea floor, an effect known as sea mounding. In doing so, they found 19,000 previously unknown seamounts.
Important reasons for mapping the ocean floor
In their paper, the scientists noted that important reasons for mapping the ocean floor include things like helping with seafloor mining efforts, as seamounts contain massive amounts of rare-earth minerals.
Important reasons for mapping the ocean floor
In their paper, the scientists noted that important reasons for mapping the ocean floor include things like helping with seafloor mining efforts, as seamounts contain massive amounts of rare-earth minerals.
More complete seamount maps will also help geologists better map the planet's tectonic plates and geomagnetic field, and some seamounts provide home to a wide variety of representatives of marine life.
According to the research team, more importantly, it has a very strong effect on ocean flow in the deep sea. When currents collide with seamounts, they are pushed up, carrying cold water with them, and mixing in unknown ways.
Because of climate change, mapping these currents is becoming more important as the oceans absorb more heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and dissolve fresh water.
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