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Rota’s submarine volcano under study anew
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Posted on Apr 13 2009
Rota’s submarine volcano, NW Rota-1, which has been actively erupting since it was first visited in 2003, is again under study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration onboard R/V Thomas G. Thompson from April 3 to 17.
NW Rota-1, whose summit is about 1,700 feet below the ocean surface, is located about 37 miles northwest of Rota.
University of Guam faculty member Ernie Matson took some of his graduate students out in the research vessel to learn about the research trip.
“This is the only site in the world where deep underwater eruptions have been directly observed and recorded by hydrophone. The pressure at this depth makes it safe to study the eruptive activity up close,” the group said in a blog about the research expedition.
With support from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the research team hopes to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunity to learn more about how submarine eruptions work and how they effect the surrounding ocean environment. For example, hydrothermal vent animals live on top of the volcano in the midst of these eruptions.
“We do not know exactly what we will find when we visit the volcano between April 3-17, 2009, but we have an extraordinary team of scientists and engineers poised to make the most out of this scientific opportunity,” the research group said.
The research group uses Jason, a remote operated vehicle, to view the vents.
For more information about the research, visit http://nwrota2009.blogspot.com.
