Fastest growing volcano found
The Monowai Cone grew around 8.5 million cubic metres in three weeks, the fastest volcanic growth ever recorded. Image: GNS Science Scientists have found a submarine volcano in New Zealand waters that has undergone the fastest episode of collapse and growth ever recorded at a volcano.The Monowai Cone, part of the Monowai Volcanic Centre, is a giant submarine volcano about 1,000km northeast of the North Island that underwent a mighty geological upheaval during five days in mid-2011, and provided scientists with new insights into the behaviour of submarine volcanoes.The volcano added about 8.5 million cubic metres of lava and debris to its summit during the brief period it was under observation.The newly erupted material raised the summit area by 79m, while a collapse at another part of the summit saw a sudden height reduction of 19m. The volcanic growth structures included at least four new summit cones.The observations were made unexpectedly during...