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Quanta Magazine ·For the curious

When Quiet Undersea Volcanoes Turn Disruptive

by Evan Howell

Published 2026-05-26 15:29:26+00:00

What makes the ocean's slow lava conveyor belt suddenly build islands?

0:00 / 14:23 · Narrator Gacrux

Context

We often picture volcanoes as dramatic, fiery mountains on land, but what about the vast majority hidden beneath the ocean? This piece takes us on a journey with scientists near Iceland who stumbled upon something truly unexpected. It challenges our assumptions about the 'quiet' nature of deep-sea volcanism, revealing how a delicate balance of pressure and depth can transform slow lava flows into explosive events. It's a fascinating look at the hidden forces constantly reshaping our planet, and how new land might literally bubble up from the depths, even today.

Show notes

A recent expedition near Iceland discovered unusual flat-topped volcanoes on the Reykjanes Ridge, a segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This article examines how reduced water pressure at shallower depths enables explosive eruptions, explaining both these formations and historical "phantom islands." It also considers and largely refutes a glacial formation theory.

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