First sighting responsible for undersea eruption

New Zealand scientists are investigating active undersea volcanos, north of New Zealand. New images reveal the impacts of a significant eruption on the seafloor.

NIWA research vessel Tangaroa has just mapped the Kermadec volcano that erupted 800 kilometres north east of Tauranga, on 19 July 2012, producing a pumice raft the size of Canterbury.

Tangaroa recently embarked on a 23-day voyage of discovery in the Kermadecs, north of New Zealand, to study the volcanic chain that stretches for 1000 kilometres north from Bay of Plenty.

"When we mapped the area yesterday", says NIWA ocean geology scientist Dr Joshu Mountjoy, "we found a new volcanic cone which has formed on the edge of the volcano, towering 240 metres above the crater rim.

[link to www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz]