2010-04-29

Asphalt Volcanoes

FOXNews.com - Massive and Ancient Asphalt Volcanoes Found off California


Hidden in the murky depths of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California, a series of volcanoes rise from the seafloor. The underwater domes are like giant parking lots, teeming with life and belching methane.
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Off the California Coast, Giant Volcanoes Made of Asphalt

Lead author David Valentine and his colleagues first found these asphalt volcanoes in 2007 when they sent submersible robots to explore peculiar formations 700 feet below the surface. Now, in a study in Nature Geoscience, the team has published its findings and its images of the extinct volcanoes. Valentine says the formations are six stories high, and spread out farther than a football field. “If I could convert all the asphalt in the largest volcano to gasoline, it would be enough to fuel my Honda Civic for about half a billion miles” [National Geographic], he says.
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World's Oldest Oil Spills: Asphalt 'Volcanoes'

These undersea mounds of asphalt have been leaking oil for tens of thousands of years.

THE GIST
  • The "asphalt volcanoes" were found 700 feet down off the shores of southern California.
  • The asphalt is at least 35,000-years-old and may contain remains of ancient organisms.
  • Massive and deadly eruptions of methane probably accompanied the asphalt.
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Undersea Volcano Eruptions Caught On Video



DiscoveryNetworks — December 18, 2009 — Underwater volcanic eruptions and magma flows on the sea floor have been seen for the first time ever thanks to video captured by NOAA. James Williams talks to the lead scientist on the project to learn the story behind the explosive images.
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Sources:
  1. FOXNews.com - Massive and Ancient Asphalt Volcanoes Found off California
  2. Off the California Coast, Giant Volcanoes Made of Asphalt | 80beats | Discover Magazine
  3. World's Oldest Oil Spills: Asphalt 'Volcanoes' : Discovery News
  4. YouTube - Undersea Volcano Eruptions Caught On Video
Related:
  1. Huge Asphalt Volcanoes Discovered Off California
  2. Asphalt Volcanism - Tar Volcanoes
  3. WHOI Scientists Find Ancient Asphalt Domes - News - Hydro International
  4. Scientists marvel at "asphalt" volcanoes
  5. Scientists find underwater asphalt volcanoes off Santa Barbara - latimes.com
  6. Dormant asphalt volcanoes found on sea floor off Santa Barbara | Greenspace | Los Angeles Times
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