Remote underwater volcano in the Pacific Ocean may have been erupting since October

Although it is difficult to confirm, scientists believed that the explosions at Ahyi Seamount began in mid-October. The site is approximately 3,800 miles west of Honolulu.

In the US Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, a volcano may be erupting deep under the Pacific Ocean, but scientists don’t know for sure because it’s so inaccessible.

Ahyi Seamount

Considering all the evidence, the Ahyi Seamount eruption may have started in mid-October, the US Geological Survey reported Monday.

Honolulu is 3,800 miles west of the Northern Mariana Islands.

According to Matt Haney, a research geophysicist at the USGS, scientists are trying to determine if the activity is due to shallow earthquakes or if something erupted from the crater.

According to him, researchers are examining satellite data to see if water is discolored, which could indicate material is erupting from the volcano.

Haney claimed there is currently no indication that the outbreak will become more intense or larger.

However, seafarers are advised to stay away from the area.

Hydroacoustic sensors on Wake Island, 1,400 miles away, have detected underwater volcanic activity for the past month.

Scientists analyzed the signals to determine that the source of the activity was most likely Ahyi Seamount, the USGS said. They did this with assistance from the Laboratoire de Geophysique in Tahiti and data from seismic stations in Japan and Guam.

According to the statement, there has recently been a drop in activity.

According to the USGS, the highest point of Ahyi Seamount, a sizable conical underwater volcano, is 259 feet below sea level. It is about 11 miles southeast of Farallon de Pajaros, also known as Uracas, the island.

The agency said there are no regional monitoring stations near Ahyi Seamount, making it difficult to identify and classify volcanic unrest there.

The Agency will be remotely monitoring the currently available satellite, seismic and hydrophonic data closely.

A report by NBC News states that the seamount is a component of the Mariana volcanic arc, a chain of over 60 active volcanoes that stretches 600 miles west of the Mariana Trench and parallels the lowest point on Earth.

Also read: Mapping of ancient underwater volcanoes reveals peaks teeming with marine life – Australia

Detected volcanic activity

According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the most recent report of volcanic activity for Ahyi Seamount is November 9-15 with reports of consistent submarine volcanic activity.

Prior to this report, the last reports were dated April-May 2014, tracking an explosion and some seismic activity.

At 06:35 on April 24, 2014, seismic stations on Pagan, Anatahan, Sarigan and Saipan began recording signals believed to be from an undersea volcanic source.

Although the vent may have been found on one of the volcanic seamounts in the region, wake island hydroacoustic sensors implied the source was on or near the Ahyi seamount.

Divers working for NOAA reported hearing loud explosions and experiencing shock waves while surveying Farallon de Pajaros’ coral reefs.

The crew heard a loud explosion echoing through the ship’s hull, one of the larger ones. Color code changed from Unassigned to Yellow on April 27, 2014.

Seismic activity was still high on April 30, 2014, according to a report released at 05:36.

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