Molten lava spewing into the ocean from an underwater volcano
has been recorded on video for the very first time. An ROV
[Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle ] named Jason was 1,220
meters [4,000 feet] below the ocean surface roughly 500
kilometers [310 miles] east of Fiji Islands. A high definition
[HD] camera was used to capture still and video images.Jason I
was exploring eruption of West Mata Volcano in South Pacific.
Picture Credit: WHOI A photo provided by WHOI [Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution ] and the funding organization, the
National Science Foundation , shows approximately six feet of an
eruptive area approximately the length of a football field.
Scientists have been able to monitor and hear sea floor
eruptions for more than a decade, but have been unable to get to
the site in time to view the event before. The ROV helped
scientists at WHOI obtain views just a few feet from the glowing
hot lava explosion. The HD video which captured the images
operates up to 7,000 meters under the surface, so