To bring in rarefied perspective on the Earth ’s interior , scientists with Advancing Knowledge of Methane in the Arctic ( AKMA ) had to go to the bottom of the Barents Sea . There , they spotted and recorded an combat-ready clay volcano — the second ever discovered in Norwegian waters . you could watch a picture of the unique geological feature above .
alternatively of molten rock and roll , the Borealis Mud Volcano ceaselessly vomit streams of fine deposit andmethane - deep H2O . The droppings originates several hundred ft to several miles beneath the Earth ’s insolence . In addition to teaching researchers about what go on deep inside our planet , the volcano offers insight into the changes taking place in our atmosphere . Methane is one of the primary nursery gas contributing to global heating ; this unexampled discovery reserve scientist to analyze its impact when it comes from a firm , localise source .
While mud volcanoes can be found on earth and underwater , this particular formation is located 70 maritime miles south of Norway ’s Bear Island , more than 1300 feet beneath the water system ’s surface . It sits in a 1000 - foot - wide volcanic crater that likely formed through a monumental methane burst 18,000 years ago . Despite the fickle mise en scene , the crater supports a vivacious undersea ecosystem that includes anemone , sponges , coral , sea star , and tube worms .
The team of scientist led by UiT , The Arctic University of Norway discovered the Borealis Mud Volcano with the piloted submersible fomite ROV Aurora while on panel the enquiry vessel Kronprins Haakon . Professor Stefan Buenz , co - leader of the AKMA junket , said in a affirmation , “ Exploring the ocean floor and discovering Modern methane seep is like detect hidden treasure . It ’s full of surprise . We have found 1000 of seeps . Yet , every clip we go down to the ocean floor , we come by with a feel that we are just start to understand the vastness and incredible diversity of seep systems . ”
After watching the rare footage above , see what theinside of a vent looks like here .
