Researchers have announced the discovery of an ancient mud volcano 400m deep in the Barents Sea, and they think it’s a sanctuary for vulnerable Arctic species.
"Today we have discovered something exceptional,” says a scientist in Ocean Census’ video sharing the discovery of the Borealis Mud Volcano.
"One would think that a volcano was not the most hospitable place for living organisms,” says Ocean Census. But using REV Ocean’s remotely operated vehicle, they could observe the volcano closely and learned that the crusts around its crater provide animals with habitat, shelter and food.
"The volcano heats its immediate surroundings to 11.5°C, compared to the typical seabed temperature of 4°C, creating a distinctive environment for marine life,” they add.
The unusual volcano was discovered during a UiT – The Arctic University of Norway expedition in 2023.
Image and video credit: REV Ocean, The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census
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