Scientists Discover 73 Volcanic Calderas Hidden Across The Ocean Floor

Key Points:

• A team led by volcanologist Andrea Verolino has identified 73 previously unknown submarine volcanic calderas using an AI algorithm applied to seafloor topography maps, potentially tripling the number of known underwater calderas.
• Submarine calderas, formed when a volcano's magma chamber empties and collapses, can cause massive eruptions, tsunamis, and atmospheric shock waves, as demonstrated by the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haʻapai eruption.
• The AI-assisted search initially flagged over 87,000 possible formations, which were narrowed down to 78 likely calderas after filtering and manual inspection, including five already known examples that validated the method.
• Most newly discovered calderas are located in interior tectonic settings like seamount chains, with fewer at mid-ocean ridges and volcanic arcs, and seven have been highlighted for future study due to their potential volcanic hazard significance.
• While the study did not determine the current activity of these calderas, it establishes a reproducible framework for ongoing submarine volcanic risk assessment and underscores the need for closer monitoring of these hidden underwater volcanoes.