The Volcanoes Are Something to Marvel At
With the help of high-tech sonar to view the seabed at high resolution and a device called a ‘magnetometer’ to measure magnetic fields, scientists found three previously unknown volcanoes.
Source: 1ocean_exploration/Instagram
The trio of volcanoes span 3.5 miles wide and stand more than 490 above the seabed. They have since been added to a series of other volcanoes discovered by the same research group in 2019.
A Sunken Ship Was Found 360 Feet Below
The ocean is full of many mysterious objects and natural structures that have been hidden for hundreds or even thousands of years.
Source: iStock via MSN
In addition to the volcanoes, researchers also located the wreckage of a sunken ship at the bottom of the seabed. Measuring 330 feet long and 56 feet wide, the submerged vessel was found at a depth of 360 feet under water between Sicily and the island of Linosa.
Volcanic Rock Samples Collected For Further Study
Scientists collected various rock samples from the submerged volcanoes. The specimens will be studied and analyzed to determine the history, age, and other unique characteristics of the underwater volcanoes.
Source: NOAA Ocean Exploration
Preliminary testing on the collected samples indicated that the volcanoes did not appear to be active. Giulia Matilde Ferrante, a researcher with the expedition, believes the volcanoes have been there for at least four or five million years.
New Research Finds Errors in Bathymetric Maps
Not only did this new round of research detect underwater volcanoes and a sunken sea vessel, but it also detected errors in the bathymetric maps that scientists had been using. Bathymetric maps are able to spot objects on the ocean floor.
Source: SERC
According to researchers, “high-resolution mapping of the seabed is fundamental” and their technology experienced a few flaws throughout the expedition. Regardless, they’re making discoveries—who knows what they’ll find next?