Group of Small Volcanoes in Alaska Could Be One Huge Underwater Volcano

A new study suggests that a small group of volcanoes in Alaska’s Aleutian [uh-LOO-shuhn] Islands may be part of a huge underwater caldera, a large crater formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. The Aleutian Islands are an archipelago that contains over 50 volcanoes. According to the study presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, six of these volcanoes may be interconnected vents of a bigger submerged volcano. Collectively known as the Islands of the Four Mountains, the six volcanoes are called Carlisle, Cleveland, Herbert, Kagamil, Tana, and Uliag. Researchers studied the area by looking at its seismic activity, gas emissions, gravity measurements, and the chemical composition of rocks and minerals in the region. Findings showed that the activity in the volcanoes could be coming from a much bigger source. Diana Roman, one of the authors of the study, said that her team’s observations all point to the idea that there is a caldera in the region. According to the researchers, the discovery does not necessarily suggest any future disaster. They said that they need to learn more about the underwater structure and whether it was formed by one large blast or smaller eruptions. One scientist who was not part of the study said that the investigation of the six volcanoes lays the groundwork for future studies.