"Uncovering the Hidden World of Undersea Volcanoes and Life"
Oceanographers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have used radar satellite data to map 19,000 previously unknown undersea volcanoes, known as seamounts, in the world's oceans. The team used radar satellite data to measure seawater mounding to find and map undersea volcanoes. Mapping the ocean floor is important for creating models depicting the flow of ocean water around the world, assisting with sea-floor mining efforts, and better mapping the planet's tectonic plates and geomagnetic field. Seamounts also provide a habitat for a vast array of marine life and have a strong impact on deep-sea ocean flow, which is becoming more important as the oceans absorb more heat and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere due to ongoing climate change.