An underwater volcano, which is believed to be ancient and extinct, is surprisingly spewing hot fluid even at present.
Researchers have explored the waters off the Pacific Coast of Canada wherein they discovered that the volcano is still active. They also noticed that the volcano is covered with a thousand of eggs.
With the height of 3,600 feet or 1,100 meters, a Live Science report described the underwater volcano as covered and decorated with deep-sea corals.
Ideal for marine creatures
The report said that the hot, mineral-rich fluid could actually make the surrounding waters toasty. This will provide ideal conditions for the survival of some marine creatures in the deep sea.
The experts also mentioned that they were surprised to see a Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) weaving in and out of the fronds. There were also laying eggs found on the volcano's summit.
Marine biologist Cherisse Du Preez described what he found and said, "I'd estimate the summit of the seamount, which was covered in eggs, had - I don't know - 100,000? A million?"
During the expedition, the researchers were able to take a video of the Pacific white skate laying eggs.
The Pacific white skate (Bathyraja spinosissima) is a species of skate in the family Arhynchobatidae. It is considered as one of the deepest-living of all skates, occurring at a depth of 800 to 2,938 m on the continental slope.
This species is native to the southeast Pacific Ocean from the Galapagos Islands to off Waldport, Oregon.
Researchers found out that several of these ravioli-shaped eggs close to hydrothermal vents near the Galapágos Islands. This shows that the skate moms harnessed the volcanic warmth so that they could incubate their eggs, which often takes years to develop.
"The warm water likely speeds up the gestation period of the eggs, resulting in more successful juveniles. The shallow summit of the seamount is almost a coral garden and a safe nursery for juveniles to grow before they descend to the deep - it's a win-win," said Du Preez in the Live Science report.
Read Also: Changes in Ocean Colour Could be a Sign of Possible Underwater Volcano Eruption
Other underwater volcanoes
Meanwhile, there are other underwater volcanoes that exist including those situated in the south of British Columbia's coast and in the South Pacific Islands.
A report on Vancouver Sun said the Axial Seamount underwater volcano in the B.C. coast is only one in a string of volcanoes that is situated along a tectonic plate boundary that stretches from Oregon to B.C.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that this volcano is considered as the most active submarine volcano in the northeast Pacific. Records showed that it erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015.
On the other hand, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai had erupted off Tonga, causing a tsunami in the area in January 2022.
A report on CTV News said underwater volcanoes are abundant in the southwest Pacific Ocean and one of them spew lava, steam, and ash on September 10, 2022.
Scientists said that most catastrophic tsunamis were caused by earthquakes, however, an eruption occurring underwater could also bring up a massive column of water.
Related Article: Antarctica: Dormant Underwater Volcano Awakens, Causes 85,000 Earthquake Swarms
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