WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

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Scientists believe that 80 percent of the
volcanic eruptions on Earth take place in

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the ocean.

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Most of these volcanoes are thousands of feet
deep, and difficult to find.

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But in May of 2009, scientists captured the
deepest ocean eruption ever found.

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Nearly 4000 feet below the surface of the
Pacific Ocean – in an area between Samoa,

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Fiji and Tonga - the West Mata volcano was
discovered.

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The explosions of molten rock were spectacular.

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This volcano was producing Boninite lavas
– believed to be among the hottest erupting

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on Earth.

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Scientists also witnessed molten lava flowing
across the deep-ocean sea floor and spotted

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shrimp living near the volcano’s most active
areas.

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This research allows us to closely examine
how ocean islands and undersea volcanoes are

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born.

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It may also shed light on how heat and matter
transfer from the interior of the Earth to

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the surface, and how life adapts to some of
the harshest conditions on our planet.

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Finding West Mata was a huge break for scientists
and for those interested in seeing what takes

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place in the deepest depths of our ocean.