Deepsea eruption expected off Vancouver Island after 200 earthquakes in an hour
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Scientists believe hot magma will erupt under the Pacific Ocean floor in deep waters off Vancouver Island after they detected up to 200 small earthquakes per hour in the area.
They say the expected rupture about five kilometres deep and 260 kilometres off the coast of Tofino, B.C., will be too distant and small to be cause for concern, but offers a unique opportunity to learn more about how the Earth’s crust is formed.
Martin Scherwath, a senior scientist with Oceans Networks Canada, says lava could break through anywhere from weeks to a few years from now, offering the first chance for the phenomenon to be captured by the network’s suite of underwater instruments.
The magma is estimated to be about 800 degrees Celsius but will cool rapidly when it hits the ocean water.
