When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive
A recent expedition off the coast of Iceland has revealed unexpected volcanic activity beneath the ocean. Researchers discovered smooth mounds along the Reykjanes Ridge, challenging previous assumptions about the behavior of undersea volcanoes. These findings may also provide insights into historical accounts of islands that appeared and disappeared in the ocean.
- ▪The expedition was conducted by a team of scientists aboard the research vessel Meteor.
- ▪They discovered smooth mounds along the Reykjanes Ridge, contradicting the typical rough terrain expected from mid-ocean ridges.
- ▪The findings could be linked to historical accounts of mysterious islands that surfaced and then vanished.
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Home When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive Comment Save Article Read Later Share Facebook Copied! Copy link Email Pocket Reddit Ycombinator Comment Comments Save Article Read Later Read Later geophysics When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive By Evan Howell May 26, 2026 Earth’s largest volcanic system, hidden in mountain chains under the sea, has long been assumed to erupt only quietly. The shallow seafloor off Iceland tells another story. Comment Save Article Read Later Rock formations emerge from the waves along the shore of Iceland. Jonas Preine Introduction By Evan Howell Contributing Author May 26, 2026 View PDF/Print Mode earth science geology geophysics physics volcanoes All topics Jonas Preine, a recently minted Ph.D.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Quanta Magazine.