Supervolcano discovered beneath England's east coast

Scientists have discovered the remains of a massive ancient supervolcano located beneath The Wash, an estuary off the coast of England. The volcanic structure spans at least 65km (40 miles) and extends into parts of Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

Researchers from the British Geological Survey (BGS) believe the volcano erupted approximately 454 million years ago. The scale of the eruption was immense, potentially throwing hundreds of cubic kilometers of Earth's crust into the stratosphere. Experts suggest this event may explain a mysterious layer of volcanic ash found across Norway, Sweden, the Baltic region, Belarus, and Poland.

The discovery was made through a fresh analysis of rock samples collected 80 years ago from deep boreholes in North Creake, Norfolk, and Claxby, Lincolnshire. Dr. Tim Pharaoh of the BGS noted that the find significantly changes the understanding of England's deep geological history. While an eruption of this magnitude would pose a global threat if it occurred today, experts clarify that the volcano is extinct and cannot be seismically reactivated.