A 2022 satellite image captured a dramatic plume of discolored water erupting from Kavachi volcano, an underwater “sharkcano” near the Solomon Islands. The Landsat 9 satellite photographed the event on May 14, showing the plume rising toward the ocean surface during an undersea eruption.
Kavachi, located about 15 miles south of Vangunu Island, is a submarine volcano known for its extreme environment. In 2015, researchers discovered sharks—including scalloped hammerheads and silky sharks—living in its crater, sparking curiosity about how marine life thrives near active volcanoes. It remains unclear if the eruption scattered these sharks or if they evacuated beforehand.
The volcano has erupted multiple times since 2003, with recent activity in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Its explosive “phreatomagmatic” eruptions occur when magma interacts with seawater, releasing steam, ash, and acidic plumes that support microbial life. Local residents often observe steam and ash between eruptions, confirming Kavachi’s constant activity beneath the waves.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/volcanos/earth-from-space-erupting-sharkcano-spits-out-a-giant-underwater-plume-in-oceania