Episode 54 – Submarine Volcanoes

#CouchPotatoLab

First, you will need to download the Submarine Volcanoes lab manual.

Would you believe me if I told you there are volcanoes that may be erupting underwater at this very minute? Well, you will have to give this activity a try and see for yourself!

Underwater volcanoes are known as submarine volcanoes, and they are continually erupting. This eruption releases lava, known as pillow lava which spreads across the ocean floor and cools quickly, creating a rocky substrate. When many eruptions occur, these layers of cooled pillow lava can break through the ocean surface, forming land masses!

A favourite vacation spot for many is believed to have formed through this process – the Hawaiian Islands! In fact, a volcano on the Big Island has volcanoes that are considered the most active (erupting the most) and most productive (producing the most lava). In contrast, the volcanoes that make up Oahu have not erupted in over one million years! Try building your own submarine volcano alongside us in this episode.

Saskatchewan Curriculum Connections:
EC7.1: Analyze societal and environmental impacts of historical and current catastrophic geological events, and scientific understanding of movements and forces within Earth’s crust.