Tag Archives: Volcanic Activity

A 2013 photo of an erupting undersea volcano creating a new island off the coast of Nishinoshima, Japan. The future Hawaiian island of Loihi will resemble this in geological terms.
~100,000-200,000: Exploring Loihi – The Emerging Hawaiian Island

Discover Loihi, an undersea mountain set to become Hawaii's newest island. With a history of seismic activity and significant growth potential, Loihi epitomizes Earth's dynamic geological processes

Main image: A blue-footed booby, a native bird of the Galápagos Islands. Inset: A true-color image of the Galápagos Islands from space, taken in 2002 by NASA's Terra satellite
c. 5 Million BCE: The Galápagos Islands – A Hotspot of Biodiversity and Geology

The Galápagos Islands, formed by the Galápagos hotspot, are a unique geological and ecological region. Their location near divergent plate boundaries has led to significant volcanic activity, creating an isolated environment that influenced Charles Darwin's [...]

A breathtaking view of Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point, featuring the iconic Half Dome mountain as the tallest peak.
c. 155 Million BCE: The Geological Formation of the Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada mountain range is a testament to the Earth’s dynamic geological processes, much of which occur out of sight, deep underground. One key aspect of these processes is the formation of magma, molten [...]

This artist's concept illustrates Earth at the transition from the Hadean to the Archean eon, depicting the time when liquid-water seas and oceans first stabilized on the surface. The image also shows large impact basins, similar to those on the Moon, indicating ongoing bombardment by asteroids and comets.
c. 4 Billion BCE: The Genesis of Earth’s Oceans – From the Hadean Eon to the Present

Explores the formation of Earth's oceans, tracing back to the Hadean eon's volcanic eruptions and gas emissions. It discusses how water transitioned from steam to liquid, the potential internal and external sources of water, and [...]

An artist's depiction of the Hadean Earth, with the Moon appearing significantly larger in the sky due to its closer proximity to our planet at that time.
c. 4.5-4 Billion BCE: Exploring the Hadean Eon – Earth’s Earliest and Most Volatile Era

Provides a vivid portrayal of the Hadean eon, a time of intense volcanic and impact activity that shaped the early Earth, and highlights how extraterrestrial bodies help us understand this barely recognizable era.

c. 4.5-4 Billion BCE: Unlocking the Secrets of Earth’s Primordial Magma Ocean and Mantle Dynamics

Delves into the scorching conditions of early Earth, proposing a once-molten mantle that shaped our planet's interior structure and created a dynamic, volcanic world unsuitable for life.