NASA satellites capture underwater volcanic eruption in Bismarck Sea

NASA satellites, including Landsat 9, Terra, and Aqua, have captured high-resolution imagery of an underwater volcanic eruption in the Bismarck Sea, north of Papua New Guinea. The eruption began on May 8, following a series of seismic tremors recorded by seismometers.

The satellite data revealed massive clouds of water vapor, significant thermal anomalies indicating hot material near the surface, and large quantities of volcanic material reaching the ocean surface. Observations included extensive areas of green and turquoise water caused by volcanic particles, as well as large masses of pumice floating on the sea.

The event occurred along the Titan Ridge, an underwater volcanic ridge in a geologically complex area where the seafloor is not yet extensively mapped. Scientists are using these observations to better understand the geological processes occurring deep beneath the ocean surface.