A New Island Has Arisen in The Pacific Following Underwater Eruption

The Home Reef volcano, which has been submerged for 16 years, woke up in the middle of the night.

There was lava and rock fragments oozing into the ocean 25 kilometers southwest of Late Island on 10/09/2018.

Within a few days the debris covered 4,000 square meters and reached a height of 33 feet.

The island had grown six times in size and was now 24,000 square meters.

This ephemeral, unnamed structure will sink back down into the Pacific Ocean's burning 'Ring of Fire' before any seafarer could hope to set foot on it.

In 2006 it took a year for the ocean's waves to erode Home Reef's crest. The crest is smaller this time.

A raft of frothy volcanic glass known as pumice was set adrift across the South Pacific after the 2006 event in which so much debris was produced.

Below is a video of that raft.

Home Reef has produced islands in the range of 50 to 70 meters in height. The island had a lagoon in 1984.

The seamount responsible for these short-lived structures is located in a region of the Pacific Ocean known as the Tonga-Kermadec subduction zone.

The second deepest trench in the world is formed by the Pacific plate slipping under two other plates at a rate of about 24 centimeters a year.

The highest density of underwater volcanos in the world can be found in this stretch of ridge.

Satellite images show the creation of the newest island in the Home Reef. The image was released by NASA.

There is a trail of smoke and an intense color of the ocean around it.

The volcanic fall-out can be seen in the image taken on September 18 using data from the TGS and the US Geological Survey.

According to a recent press release from NASA, the clouding of the water is likely caused by superheated acidic seawater mixed with volcanic rock and debris.

TGS stated that the volcano poses low risks to the aviation community.

All mariners are advised to sail further away from Home Reef until further notice.

There have been no volcanic ash or steam seen in this area since September 25. We can appreciate Home Reef's gift to the sea while it lasts.