The Discovery of the West Mata Volcano

Scientists at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory along with University partners, in an expedition sponsored by NOAA's Office of Exploration and Research and the National Science Foundation, captured an active underwater eruption on video during a research cruise in 2009. Located in the Northeast Lau Basin in the South Pacific Ocean, the West Mata volcano is also one of the deepest underwater eruptions ever discovered with its base lying in over 9,000 feet of water. Scientists witnessed molten lava flowing across the deep ocean sea floor for the very first time giving them a firsthand look at the way ocean islands and submarine volcanoes are born. Find out more at: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/laubasin.html and http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/09laubasin/welcome.html

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Science & Technology

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• West Mata
• volcano
• underwater volcano
• undersea volcano