![]() ![]() The recent eruption sites span locations from the summit ( 1200 m) to the base of the volcano ( 3000 m) beyond the end of both of its rift zones, and locations in between. The multibeam sonar re-surveys (both ship and AUV-based) constrain the timing, thickness, area, morphology, and volume of the new deposits. In November-December 2017, we collected high-resolution (1-m) multibeam bathymetry with AUV Sentry and made the first visual observations at these recent eruption sites with ROV SuBastian during expedition FK171110 on R/V Falkor. ![]() The most recent eruption occurred sometime between March 2016 and November 2017 along the middle NE rift zone and produced lava flows with a shingled morphology along with ash and debris that mantled the SE slope. The latter intruded into a basin with thick sediments, uplifted them, and then extruded lava onto the seafloor around the uplift. Three eruptions occurred between November 2011 and March 2016 one near the summit on the upper NE rift, a second on the NE flank away from any rift zone, and a third at the NE base of the volcano. Repeated bathymetric surveys of West Mata have shown that over the past 10-15 years it has had frequent but intermittent volcanism, with 9 eruptions, collapses, or landslides documented in the 9 years since 2009. ![]() Po-dating of lavas showed it was still erupting in December 2010, and hydrophone recordings suggest persistent activity continued into early 2011. West Mata was previously discovered to be actively erupting at its summit in September 2008 and May 2009, from water column and direct visual observations, respectively. West Mata is a submarine volcano located in the SW Pacific Ocean between Fiji and Samoa in the NE Lau Basin, one of the most tectonically and volcanically active areas on the planet. ![]()
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