Article initially published on January 13, 2025
A “ghost island” off the coast of Azerbaijan
In February 2023, in the Caspian Sea, 25 kilometers from the Azerbaijan coast as satellites of NASA Earth Observatory put their eyes on an island that was not there before.
Born from a particular volcanic eruption, the island is now disappearing, washed by waters, as these images show.
© Nasa Earth Observatory
The ghost island appeared from 2023. Photo 1 Taken on 18/11/2022 – Photo 2 Taken on 02/14/2023 – Photo 3 Taken on 25/12/2024
And the reason why we are talking about a ghost island is very simple in view of Mark Tingay, a geologist from the University of Adélaïde. “” “These emerging islands or “ghost islands are called because they appear very suddenly, but are quickly washed by the waves and sink again under the sea to disappear in the space of a few months or a few years.”He explained in a post on Threadsthe equivalent of X, but for Instagram.
A mud volcano at work
As you will have understood, the island currently disappearing before our eyes was born from a volcanic eruption. However, this is not the one you think of. Indeed, the ghost island appeared thanks to a mud volcano. Finally, thanks to its eruption.
It is not really a volcano in the sense that it is understood, since the latter does not produce lava, but these eruptions can still be very violent. The one who gave birth to the ghost island is appointed Kumani Bank. If we have no images of his eruption, Mark Tingay posted a video of a similar volcano which erupted in 2021, just 12 kilometers from that of Kumani Bank.
See in Threads
Impressive images which reveal gigantic flame columns for a few minutes and which can therefore project mud on the surface, which can therefore create a ghost island.
A phenomenon still misunderstood
If the fact that the ghost island ends up disappearing because it is just made up of mud, scientists still wonder about how such an eruption could have taken place.
Two hypotheses are advanced today.
The first concerns the tectonic activity of the region which could lead to the expulsion of the sediments towards the surface and therefore the eruption of the volcano.
The second is interested in the possibility of spontaneous combustion of gases released by the volcano which would explain the impressive size of the flame columns which can escape such formations.
To do this, scientists only have to wait for the right time to closely observe the appearance of a ghost island from a mud volcano to unravel the mysteries of this phenomenon.
Source : NASA Earth Observatory / Iflscience
With an unwavering passion for local news, Christopher leads our editorial team with integrity and dedication. With over 20 years’ experience, he is the backbone of Wouldsayso, ensuring that we stay true to our mission to inform.
