Undersea lava flows named after Game of Thrones dragon may reveal a new type of volcanism

Amazing stuff!

Unfortunately, it appears neither the King Abdullah University nor the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research posted any news release on this discovery!

"The Atlantic Ocean’s Balerion Lava Field doesn’t fit any established model of volcanic eruptions"

"A glassy swath of lava discovered on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean doesn’t fit any existing explanation for how volcanoes form. Named the Balerion Lava Field after the gargantuan black dragon from the TV series Game of Thrones, it may represent a previously unrecognized form of volcanism lurking across Earth’s still mostly unexplored sea floor. ...

But the Balerion Lava Field—located in the northwestern Atlantic far from any subduction zone, midocean ridge, or known hot spot—fits none of these categories. ..."

From the abstract:

"The abyssal plains cover more than half of Earth’s surface and are generally regarded as volcanically and hydrothermally inactive environments that progressively accumulate pelagic sediments with age. This assumption is the basis for models on e.g., oceanic crust evolution, chemical budgets of the deep ocean floor, and the distribution of hard-substrate benthic habitats.

Here, we present high-resolution acoustic data, seafloor observations, and sample characteristics from the NW Atlantic abyssal seafloor that reveal 360 km2 of young (<50 ka) volcanism on 20 Ma oceanic crust. 

These Balerion Lava Fields do not display a significant bathymetric expression and are only detectable from the surface by a stronger acoustic backscatter, pointing to limited sedimentation.

Geochemistry of the lavas reveals that the lavas are Si-saturated basaltic andesites with low Ca and Fe at relatively high Mg contents. Whole rock trace element and elevated Ni, low Ca/Fe olivine chemistry signatures resemble those of Hawaiian samples from Koʻolau and Mauna Loa that have been linked to pyroxenite-bearing mantle sources. 

Isotopic compositions are close to the PREMA mantle domain. Small (<1 mm), skeletal phenocrysts suggest rapid crystal growth and ascent of low-viscosity, possibly superheated melts with little or no crustal storage.

Regional bathymetry and tectonic structure are consistent with normal 20 Ma seafloor subsidence and deformation, providing no evidence for anomalous lithospheric thinning, intraplate extension, or a mantle thermal anomaly.

Instead, the geochemical characteristics point to magma generation at >2 GPa from a pyroxenite-rich source within the asthenosphere [cf. 4].

We propose that the Balerion volcanism reflects melting of anomalous volumes of recycled oceanic crust, rising in the convecting upper mantle. Such processes may occur widely beneath oceanic plates, representing a form of intraplate magmatism independent of both plate tectonics and mantle plumes."

Undersea lava flows named after Game of Thrones dragon may reveal a new type of volcanism | Science | AAAS

Hidden, young lavas on the 20 Ma old abyssal plain: A new form of oceanic intraplate volcanism

A crystal of olivine in a sample of seafloor lava that resembled a dragon prompted researchers to name the eruptive flow Balerion, after a Game of Thrones dragon

The Hunga Tonga volcanic eruption in 2022 sent enough water vapor into the stratosphere to cause a rapid change in chemistry

Quite possibly this massive submarine volcano eruption also contributed to 2023 to be a hot year again! The lack of attention to this spectacular geological event is astounding!

"The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano on January 15, 2022, produced the largest underwater explosion ever recorded by modern scientific instruments, blasting an enormous amount of water and volcanic gases higher than any other eruption in the satellite era.

Two research papers have now detailed how that water vapor rapidly affected the Earth’s stratosphere between 10 and 31 miles above the surface, causing an unexpectedly large loss of ozone and an unexpectedly rapid formation of aerosols.  ...

Volcanic aerosols are profoundly important for global climate, as demonstrated by the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption that cooled the planet by 0.5°C (0.9°F) for nearly two years. They can also act as surfaces upon which rapid chemical reactions can take place, leading to the destruction of ozone. ..."

A volcanic eruption sent enough water vapor into the stratosphere to cause a rapid change in chemistry - NOAA Research (dated 12/20/2023)

ESA - Ozone hole goes large again

The infamous ozone hole of the 1970-1980s that led to the Montreal Protocol  in 1987 "to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of these harmful substances".

I suspect, it is e.g. this ozone hole that has contributed to the now so common anthropogenic or manmade accusations e.g. surrounding the Global Warming hoax and Climate Change religion.

I blogged here recently about the much underreported massive eruption of the submarine Hunga-Tonga volcano in January 2022. Almost like a blindspot in our climate crisis obsessed times. We can be lucky it was a submarine volcano.

"Measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite show that this year’s ozone hole over Antarctica is one of the biggest on record. The hole, which is what scientists call an ‘ozone depleting area,’ reached a size of 26 million sq km on 16 September 2023. This is roughly three times the size of Brazil. ...
The size of the ozone hole [naturally] fluctuates on a regular basis. From August to October, the ozone hole increases in size – reaching a maximum between mid-September and mid-October. ...

Although it may be too early to discuss the reasons behind the current ozone concentrations, some researchers speculate that this year’s unusual ozone patterns could be associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in January 2022. ... “The eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano in January 2022 injected a lot of water vapour into the stratosphere which only reached the south polar regions after the end of the 2022 ozone hole. ..."

ESA - Ozone hole goes large again

Anatomy of a volcanic eruption undersea: Hunga Tonga

It is my impression that this gigantic volcanic eruption has received way too little attention! This eruption may have also affected the record temperatures this summer.

Remember the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa! E.g. it caused a volcanic Winter!

"... The eruption – the most powerful ever recorded with modern equipment – triggered a deadly tsunami and "avalanche-like flows" of material that damaged underwater telecommunications cables connecting Tonga with the rest of the world. ...

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption unleashed a force equivalent to hundreds of atomic bombs, with the subsequent tsunami killing at least three people and destroying homes on Tonga.
Scientists found the eruption blasted out debris at record heights in the atmosphere."

From the abstract:

"In December 2021, an undersea volcano in the southern Pacific Ocean, the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai (hereafter called the Hunga volcano) began erupting. In January 2022 the eruption reached a powerful climax, triggering atmospheric waves that traveled around the globe and a tsunami that swept across the Pacific Ocean. An estimated 75% of Earth's volcanoes are underwater, and 20% of all fatalities caused by volcanic eruptions since 1600 CE have been associated with underwater volcanism. Yet, explosive underwater eruptions are poorly understood. On page 1085 of this issue, Clare et al. report that volcanic debris from the Hunga eruption traveled under the sea at an unprecedented distance and at record-breaking speed—more than 100 km, at velocities reaching 122 km/hour — and destroyed a vast network of seafloor telecommunication cables. Given that 95% of global communications are carried by seafloor cables, the findings highlight system vulnerabilities to underwater volcanism."

Anatomy of a volcanic eruption undersea | Science Submarine flows from the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha‘apai eruption decimated seafloor cables

Gigantic Tonga Eruption Triggered The Fastest Ocean Flows Ever Recorded

Tonga volcano eruption felt in Atlantic Ocean seafloor on other side of world

Recommendable! The largest volcano eruption of the last 100 years or so. We were probably very luck that it was a submarine eruption otherwise we would be perhaps looking at volcanic winters! E.g. whales started chatting and singing according to the seismologist on the program.

We've got a 1 in 6 chance of a mega-volcano erupting this century

Such a mega volcano eruption would be a real climate crisis unlike the phony climate change!

Why this major natural event was so underreported by media is more than strange!

"In mid-January 2022, most people didn’t notice anything special, but geologists knew we dodged a bullet. The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted in Tonga, sending enough water into the atmosphere to briefly warm the planet. The eruption was one of the largest ever recorded; it essentially blew up an island, created tsunamis ...

We were lucky the eruption lasted only 11 hours — had it lasted longer, the damage would have spread to other areas in southeast Asia, one of the most densely populated areas in the world, which also hosts vital shipping lanes and key global agriculture and infrastructure."

"... Researchers classify volcanic eruptions in something called the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI). This index classifies eruptions in terms of total volume of ejecta, cloud height, and types of eruption (some can be more gentle, some can be more explosive). The VEI ranges from 1 to 8, with 1 being a “chill” Hawaiian eruption, and 8 being an absolute catastrophe and possibly, a civilization-ender.

VEI 8 eruptions are relatively rare (the Yellowstone eruption from 2.1 million years ago and the Toba eruption from 74,000 years ago are good examples) — but VEI 7 eruptions are not that rare. In fact, the odds of such an eruption within this century is around 1 in 6, which is way too close for comfort.

The last such eruption was the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora. [followed by the year without summer] ..."

We've got a 1 in 6 chance of a mega-volcano erupting this century. Shouldn't we get prepared?

Huge volcanic eruptions: time to prepare More must be done to forecast and try to manage globally disruptive volcanic eruptions. The risks are greater than people think.

The 2022 Tonga undersea volcano eruption was one of the largest ever recorded

Be happy this was not an above ground volcano eruption or we would have witnessed another global crisis after Covid-19, the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine, and global price inflation!

If I am not mistaken, this enormous volcano eruption was barely mentioned in the news!

"A new analysis has verified that the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai undersea volcano in January 2022 was among the most explosive volcanic eruptions ever recorded. It was the largest volcanic eruption of the 21st century and also the largest eruption since the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. ...
Hunga Tonga erupted on January 15 of this year after a string of lesser eruptions that started in December 2021, creating a vertical plume that rose more than 50km (30 miles) above the earth’s surface. The eruption triggered a tsunami so severe that it killed two people in Peru and injured two more in California — despite being thousands of miles away."

 

From the abstract:

"The January 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haapai eruption was one of the most explosive volcanic events of the modern era, producing a vertical plume which peaked > 50km above the Earth. The initial explosion and subsequent plume triggered atmospheric waves which propagated around the world multiple times. A global-scale wave response of this magnitude from a single source has not previously been observed. Here we show the details of this response, using a comprehensive set of satellite and ground-based observations to quantify it from surface to ionosphere. A broad spectrum of waves was triggered by the initial explosion, including Lamb waves propagating at phase speeds of 318.2±6 ms-1 at surface level and between 308±5 to 319±4 ms-1 in the stratosphere, and gravity waves7 propagating at 238±3 to 269±3 ms-1 in the stratosphere. Gravity waves at sub-ionospheric heights have not previously been observed propagating at this speed or over the whole Earth from a single source. Latent heat release from the plume remained the most significant individual gravity wave source worldwide for >12 hours, producing circular wavefronts visible across the Pacific basin in satellite observations. A single source dominating such a large region is also unique in the observational record. ..."

The 2022 Tonga volcano eruption was one of the largest ever recorded

Why the Tongan eruption will go down in the history of volcanology The 15 January blast sent shock waves around the globe and defied scientific expectations. Researchers are now scrambling to work out why.

Surface-to-space atmospheric waves from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption (no public access. Google Scholar provides this link to the PDF)