Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Underwater volcano in Antarctica sets off 85,000 earthquakes

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 28 Apr 2022 14:06
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The seismic outburst is the largest to ever be recorded in Antarctica.

  • x
  • Underwater volcano in Antarctica sets off 85,000 earthquakes
    The swarm began in August of 2020 and was the greatest earthquake activity ever recorded.

A long-dormant undersea volcano in Antarctica has erupted, causing an outbreak of 85,000 earthquakes. 

The swarm, which began in August 2020 and ended in November of that year, is the region's greatest earthquake activity ever recorded. According to a recent study, the quakes were most likely produced by a "finger" of hot magma probing into the crust.

Simone Cesca, the study's co-author and a seismologist at the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, told Live Science that "there have been similar intrusions in other places on Earth, but this is the first time we have observed it there," adding that these processes usually occur over geologic time scales.

The swarm occurred on the Orca Seamount, an inactive volcano rising 2,950 feet from the seafloor in the Bransfield Strait, a short strait between the South Shetland Islands and Antarctica's northern coast. According to a 2018 research published in the journal Polar Science, the Phoenix tectonic plate is sinking beneath the continental Antarctic plate in this location, generating a network of fault zones, stretching certain parts of the crust, and forming rifts in others.

Related News

World's largest iceberg runs aground off heavily inhabited island

'For centuries to come' is the impact of melting Antarctic on oceans

Scientists on King George Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, were the first to notice the rumblings of tiny earthquakes. The news quickly spread to Cesca and his colleagues all over the world, some of whom were working on other projects with the researchers on the island.

Researchers utilized data from two nearby seismic stations since King George Island is so remote, as well as data from ground stations for the international satellite navigation system.

Cesca stated that with the pieces of all the data coming together, enough information was gathered about the underlying geology triggering the earthquakes.

The series' two most powerful earthquakes were a magnitude 5.9 quake in October 2020 and a magnitude 6.0 quake in November. Seismic activity decreased following the November quake. According to the analysis, the quakes moved the earth on King George Island by around 4.3 inches (11 cm).

Cesca stated that "what we think is that the magnitude 6 somehow created some fractures and reduced the pressure of the magma dike."

Cesca said that if there was an undersea eruption at the seamount, it most likely occurred at that time. However, there is no clear proof of an eruption as of yet; to establish that the gigantic shield volcano blew its top, scientists would need to send a mission to the strait to measure the bathymetry or seafloor depth, and compare it to previous maps, he explained.

  • Antarctic
  • earthquake
  • Antarctica

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS