New Underwater Volcano Discovered Off Antarctic Coast

New Underwater Volcano Discovered
National Science Foundation Says New Underwater Volcano Discovered Off Antarctic Coast

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON May 20, 2004 — A previously unknown underwater volcano has been discovered off the coast of Antarctica, the National Science Foundation said Thursday.
The finding helps explain mariners' historical reports of discolored water in the area, the agency said. Material from underwater volcanoes is known to cause discoloration in water over them.

The presence of a volcano was first suggested in sonar studies during a research cruise in January, but scientists were unable to return to the stormy waters of the region until April.

The foundation said the research vessel Lawrence M. Gould was returning from a study of a collapsed ice self when it passed over the volcano.

The research team led by Eugene Domack of Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., used a bottom-scanning video recorder, rock dredges and temperature probes to survey the sides and crest of the submarine peak.

While large areas were colonized by submarine life, none was found on dark rock around the volcano itself, indicating that lava had flowed fairly recently. [continued]