Submarine volcanism cruise logs
The Submarine Volcanism group has traveled to the NE Pacific, the Gulf of California, off the California coast, Hawaii, the Lau Basin, and the south Pacific (Lau Basin, Pacific-Antarctic Ridge and Southern East Pacific Rise) to study mid-ocean spreading ridges, seamounts, and hot spot volcanoes, and continental margin processes. From each of our cruises we have posted daily cruise logs to share our experiences at sea.

Axial Seamount seafloor-mapping expedition
September 4, 2019 – The R/V Rachel Carson just returned from a successful 18-day mapping expedition at Axial Seamount, off the coast of Oregon.

Northern 2016 Expedition
From July 26 to August 16, 2016, MBARI researchers used the R/V Western Flyer and the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts to study underwater volcanoes off the coast of Oregon and Washington. They documented their expedition in stunning photos and daily blog entries.

Seafloor Lava Flows
Northern 2014 Expedition

Volcanoes and Seamounts
Gulf of California 2012 Expedition

Volcanoes and Seamounts
Gulf of California 2015 Expedition

Seafloor lava flows
Northern 2013 Expedition
Science
- Upper-ocean systems
- Midwater research
- Seafloor processes
- Areas of study
- Past research
- Research publications
Related
Listening to an underwater eruption
Sept 8, 2020 – MBARI scientists use sound to track day-to-day changes in the eruption of an underwater volcano.
Hundreds of hydrothermal chimneys discovered on the seafloor off the Pacific Northwest
April 28, 2020 – MBARI's underwater mapping efforts off the Pacific Northwest have revealed almost 600 hydrothermal chimneys rising from the deep seafloor.
Mapping the next Hawaiian island
April 25, 2019 – MBARI researchers recently created a new map of Loihi, an undersea volcano that will be the next Hawaiian Island.
Submarine Volcanism Publications
Wheat, C. G., Zierenberg, R.A., Paduan, J.B., Caress, D.W., Clague, D.A., Chadwick Jr., W.W., (2020). Changing brine inputs into hydrothermal fluids: Southern Cleft Segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 21: 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009360
Le Saout, M., Bohnenstiehl, D.R., Paduan, J.B., Clague, D.A., (2020). Quantification of eruption dynamics on the north rift at Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 21: 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009136
Clague, D.A., Paduan, J.B., Caress, D.W., McClain, J., Zierenberg, R.A., (2020). Lava flows erupted in 1996 on North Gorda Ridge Segment and the geology of the nearby Sea Cliff Hydrothermal Vent Field From 1-M resolution AUV mapping. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7: 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00027