Was The World’s ‘Northern-Most Island’ Erased From Charts?
by Kevin Hamilton (University of Hawaii) In 2021, an expedition off the icy northern Greenland coast spotted what appeared to be a previously uncharted island. It was small and gravelly,...
While on a routine maritime patrol mission yesterday between Samoa and New Zealand, a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion spotted a rather unusual field of debris floating on the surface of the ocean southwest of Raoul Island.
It was rocks… lots and lots of rocks. Pumice more specificially, and it covered an area 250 nautical miles in length and 30 nautical miles wide.
Pumice is formed when super heated, highly pressurized lava is quickly cooled, trapping air bubbles inside it.
Try to picture a can of soda instantly freezing solid as soon as you open the top, that’s pretty much how pumice is formed. Dissolved gases in the lava don’t have time to escape before the rock hardens.
According to GNS Science, the underwater volcano Monowai has been active along the Kermadec Arc and the pumice could be a result of that activity.
While transiting from Auckland to Raoul Island, HMNZS Canterbury changed course to intercepted the floating rock field to gather samples to determine which volcano they came from.
Dive into a sea of information with our meticulously curated weekly “Dispatch” email. It’s more than just a newsletter; it’s your personal maritime briefing.
Join the 104,016 members that receive our newsletter.
Have a news tip? Let us know.
Be Informed: Stay updated with the latest maritime news and trends.
Connect: Network with a community of maritime professionals and enthusiasts.
Gain Insights: Receive exclusive content and personal perspectives from our CEO.
Sign UpMaritime and offshore news trusted by our 104,016 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up