An underwater volcano in the Solomon Islands, nicknamed “Shark Volcano” due to the presence of two shark species living in its submerged crater, is on the verge of eruption in the Pacific Ocean.
Smoke column from Kavachi volcano. (Photo: NASA)
Satellite images taken on May 14 show a smoke column causing the ocean water to become murky, rising from Kavachi Volcano, located approximately 24 km south of Vangunu Island. According to the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program, the volcano entered a phase of eruption preparation in October 2021. New satellite data revealed activity in recent days during April and May 2022.
Previous studies indicated a column of superheated, acid-rich water containing fine particles, volcanic rock fragments, and sulfur, NASA reported. However, this is not an issue for sharks that have adapted to thrive in the hot, acidic environment surrounding the volcano.
A scientific expedition in 2015 to Kavachi Volcano discovered two shark species, including hammerhead sharks and silky sharks living in the underwater crater. Researchers also found a six-gill stingray, snapper fish, jellyfish, and a thriving population of bacteria in sulfur. The existence of sharks raised new questions about the ecology of the underwater active volcano and the extreme environments in which large marine animals can survive. The research team suggested that these sharks have likely mutated to survive in the hot, acid-rich environment.
Kavachi is one of the most active underwater volcanoes in the Pacific, also known as Rejo te Kvachi. The first report of the volcano’s activity dates back to 1939. Since the late 1970s, there have been at least 11 major eruptions, with the eruptions in 1976 and 1991 being strong enough to create new islands. However, these islands were not large enough to withstand erosion and eventually submerged.
The summit of the volcano is currently estimated to be 20 meters below sea level, while its base lies at a depth of 1.2 km on the ocean floor. Frequent underwater eruptions sometimes reach the surface, creating multiple columns of smoke, ash, and volcanic rock fragments.
