Humans rarely witness underwater volcanic eruptions. These phenomena also do not have much scientific study focused on them, even if it is said that ‘as much as 80 percent of the planet’s volcanic activity is thought to occur on the sea floor.’ The only evidence these phenomena leave are traces of lava spews on the ocean floor. In 2004 near Guam, a series of undersea volcanic eruptions ‘vented droplets of liquid carbon dioxide and formed pools of liquid sulfur.’

The waters around Samoa have been the location of some fairly recent undersea volcanic eruptions. A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory found ‘a plume of volcanic material floating in the water column, above the Lau Basin, 140 miles southwest of Samoa’ in November last year.

Out of a vent on the West Mata volcano, red-hot lava spewed at the depth of nearly 4,000 feet under water. The lava promptly turned into pillow-shaped rocks as ‘ocean water chills lava on contact.’

Out of another vent, chunks of lava were spewed into the ocean at the depth of about 100 meters (328 feet). In spite of the water’s pressure, the explosive gas pushed ‘ash and rocks 20 meters (66 feet) above the vent.’

Yet another set of volcanic eruption remnants was found just 40 kilometers (25 miles) away from these two vents, with the lava still fresh when the scientists came upon them.

Via Discovery Channel