A new island has popped up off the coast of Japan thanks to an underwater volcano
- Reference: 1629195904
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/08/17/japan_volcanic_island/
- Source link:
Japan Meteorological Agency released a [1]statement yesterday saying that the submarine volcano Fukutoku-Okanoba had continued erupting with an explosion spotted last week, on 13 August. Pumice stones and other material were flowing up to 60km in the northwest direction while volcanic bombs and horizontal eruptions were affecting the water surrounding the volcano. Active eruption is expected to continue.
"Regarding this, the Japan Coast Guard has issued a navigation warning to call attention to nearby vessels," read a translation of the statement. The Japan Coast Guard observed the volcano had created a new C-shaped island with a 1km diameter on Sunday from the air.
[2]AI cleans up sat radar images so scientists can better spot warning signs before volcanoes go all Mount Doom
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[4]Geoboffins reckon extreme rainfall might help some volcanoes pop off
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Submarine volcanos are underwater versions of their terrestrial brethren. During eruption, new crust material can actively form from pillows of lava, rising above sea level to become volcanic islands. While a new island isn't formed every day, it is not exactly an unknown phenomenon activity, particularly near Japan and Iceland.
In Japan, new islands have been formed this way in 1904, 1914, and 1986, all of which are now submerged again thanks to erosion.
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Another example of a recently formed volcanic island is Iceland's Surtsey Island, whose human population is restricted only to scientists. The volcanic island reached sea level in 1963 and continued growing through eruption until 1967. It was once 2.7km 2 , but in 2012, was surveyed at 1.3km 2 .
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The new land is likely to be considered part of Japan from here on out as it is relatively close to Iwo Jima. Speculation is that its existence won't affect trade or territorial matters. ®
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[1] https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/press/2108/16a/fukutokuokanoba_20210816.html
[2] https://www.theregister.com/2020/10/16/volcano_ai_prediction/
[3] https://www.theregister.com/2020/07/21/volcanoes_on_venus/
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2020/04/23/rain_makes_volcanoes_erupt_study/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2018/08/29/the_biggest_mass_extinction_event_on_earth_caused_by_a_deadly_millionyear_long_volcano_eruption/
[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YRvdOpCeJW0mXzoPBVHdiAAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offbeat/science&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YRvdOpCeJW0mXzoPBVHdiAAAAEs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
It's too far from China and way too close to a permanent [1]Japanese military base .
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwo_Jima
China might see that as a plus...
They don't need to.
They probably already built a Submarine base there years ago, that can be converted to a normal port now...
:-)
First thing I thought of was the new barrier island that formed off Cape Hatteras. It was nicknamed [1]Shelly Island (because it was full of shells). Cape Hatteras is where the powerful Gulf Stream current turns toward Europe, just a little bit south of where Walter Raleigh made his first landing. These barrier islands are constantly being shaped, reformed, and moved by the ocean currents, hurricanes, and winter storms called nor'easters (short for Northeasterly). The island formed, and then a hurricane destroyed it. And now another one is forming.
And then I also thought about the Hawaii islands. The active volcano there is constantly making the big island (named Hawaii) bigger.
I find this earth interesting.
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=shelly+island+nc
All of the Hawaiian islands were made by the same magma bloom. When it breaches the crust it builds a new undersea island (and possibly eventually a surface island), then when it subsides the plate movement above it ensures that the current islands are out of the way in time for when it rises again and a new island can be formed.
Indeed, lots of interesting islands like that - Galapagos has same "production line" of islands & much fun to be had comparing islands of different age
The Hawaii-Emperor Seamount chain is a terrific example of a hotspot volcano which has punched a series of holes through the Pacific Plate and extends all the way to the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench off of Asia where the plate is recycled back into the Mantle.
Our nearest hotspot is in Eastern Iceland under Askja which is pushing up the whole island above sea level and is responsible for the big, mean volcanoes of Eastern Iceland which are the ones to be afraid of. It's the same one that created the lava flows of Northern Ireland and Western Scotland which erupted before the Atlantic even formed. Today, it keeps a small section of the Mid Atlantic Ridge dry so we can go and see friendly little volcanoes erupt like the one in Geldingadalir which is doing wonders for the Icelandic tourist industry.
The little Japanese island is a bit different, it's caused by island arc volcanism related to the subduction of the Pacific plate back into the Mantle. Judging by the photos, it looks like it a mix of cinder and ash with very little liquid lava. I wouldn't be too surprised if it was washed away in a few months or years unless it can be persuaded to erupt some lava armour. Mind you, these volcanoes can be utterly spectacular if the vent remains below sea level as the magma mixes with seawater. You get these colossal 'Surtseyan' eruptions (named after the Icelandic island in the article) which look like atom bomb tests.
Development opportunity
Someone call the builders and estate agents quick...... there's money to be made.
AND - it even has free underfloor heating! Definitely an ECO+ point.
Volcano island
Can I build my secret lair there, or has somebody else already claimed it?
Submarine volcanos are underwater ... .
This is why I come here for the science articles. Would have preferred a C++ shaped island, though — more classy.
C++
Would be even better if it were assembler shaped.
Re: C++
"Some assembler required"
Uhm...
"... a new C-shaped island with a 1km diameter..."
That would be the caldera forming close to the surface. Run, do not walk to the nearest exit!!!
Re: Uhm...
Oh no its not!
Its Hephaestus building a rocket cone to fire up starship Ghia for the rest of the pantheon.
When that goes off it will prove that space 1999 was just a practice run.
Can anyone else hear the Godzilla theme?
Has China built a runway on it yet?