Birth of an island - Undersea Volcano Now Just 70 Meters from Surface

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,796612,00.html

11/08/2011

Canary Islands Eruption

Undersea Volcano Now Just 70 Meters from Surface

By Axel Bojanowski

In the Atlantic Ocean, off the Canary Island of El Hierro, 20-meter high jets of water are being spat into the air as the sea boils amid the stench of sulfur. The undersea volcano, which is set to create new land, is growing ever-nearer to the surface -- but is the existing island at risk from the explosive eruptions?

"The monster rises out of the water", screamed the Spanish newspaper La Provincia. Scientists, meanwhile, are being a bit more level-headed about the undersea volcano south of El Hierro in the Canary Islands; they now believe it is in the third phase of its eruption -- fountains of water have been shooting out of the Atlantic up to 20 meters in the air over the last few days. On Tuesday, some local residents even saw stones being catapulted out of the sea.

A seething maelstrom, dozens of meters across, is bubbling away in the ocean. Measurements show that the vortices are significantly warmer than the surrounding water.

So far, the volcano has only shown its explosive power beneath the water. But now the outbursts to the south of El Hierro are frothing up the surface, as if the ocean had hiccups. The lava is piling up on an underwater mountain. That the eruption is capable of firing jets of water into the air shows that this mountain is growing -- the center of the eruption is approaching the surface. Geologists believe that new land could soon emerge from the sea, and islanders are already looking for a name for the new territory. There are only 70 meters to go until the mountain reaches the surface, experts from Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) have reported.

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Nice photos at link

[HopeHoops]

1. Canary Islands? Anyone taking bets on which corporation buys the new island?

[ohheckyeah]

9. Walmart probably already has plans

to build a super store.

[HappyMe]

2. I'll bet real estate agents are

just dying to sell lots.

[Downwinder]

3. Fukushima melted through, already?

[Downwinder]

4. With islands around the world submerging,

it is good to see one emerging. Not counting Dubai and other man made islands, how long has it been since the last island emerged? Gives you a thought that all is not lost and our world is still developing.

[Dover]

10. I'm guessing we'll eventually see something similar happen around Iceland...n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Not that rare

2010, Japan: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/02/photogalleries/100210-undersea-volcano-island-japan-pictures/

2009, Tonga: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/21/tonga-volcano-island-nuku-alofa

2000, Solomon Islands: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/762047.stm

and, going back a few years, World Heritage Site at Surtsey, Iceland: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1267

[UTUSN]

5. Holy Zeus, ain't that close to where a slab can break off sending tsunami our way?!1 n/t

[hootinholler]

6. One of the canaries is ripe to do that.

I can't remember which one, but the fear channel speculated a tsunami form it could be 100'+ in New York.

[SpiralHawk]

7. Yes - that is a huge story. If that slab goes, holy shit...

Here's a youtuber on the Mega Tsunami some say would result
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohNsKV3FYT8

[Arugula Latte]

11. Oh great. Another thing to worry about.

:scared:

[redqueen]

8. Good pics and video here too

http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/25/el-hierro-canary-islands-spain-volcanic-risk-alert-increased-to-yellow/


K&R

[Nuclear Unicorn]

13. I call dibs!