InfrasoundBuoysRemotelyMonitorDeepOceanVolcanicActivityfortheFirstTime

An international collaboration led by the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography has successfully deployed a network of specialized infrasound buoys to remotely monitor deep ocean volcanic eruptions. The system detected distinct infrasonic signatures from previously unobservable submarine volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean, recording dozens of events over a six-month period, some correlating with seismic activity. Researchers designed robust buoys capable of withstanding extreme ocean conditions and equipped them with sensitive hydrophones to pick up low-frequency sounds propagating thousands of kilometers through the water column. This pioneering approach provides critical, real-time data on underwater geological processes, offering a new window into the dynamics of Earth's most active, yet hidden, volcanic regions. The ability to 'hear' eruptions from afar offers a counterintuitive method for studying Earth's crust.