Scientists Discover Deepest Undersea Volcano

12.18.09 | Sarah Harnisch

Scientists funded by NOAA and the National Science Foundation recorded the deepest erupting volcano yet discovered, describing high-definition video of the undersea eruption as "spectacular." Eruption of the West Mata volcano, discovered in May, occurred nearly 4,000 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, in an area bounded by Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

A type of lava never before seen was found erupting from the active volcano. Chemical oceanographer and Chief Scientist Joseph Resing said for the first time, they observed molten lava flowing across the deep-ocean seafloor.