Sharks Found Living Inside Active Underwater Volcano Kavachi

Why in News:
Scientists have reported rare video evidence of sharks living inside an active submarine volcano, challenging long-held assumptions that such extreme volcanic environments can support only microorganisms.

Key Findings

• The discovery was made during a 2015 scientific expedition studying Kavachi, one of the most active underwater volcanoes on Earth.
• Live sharks were observed swimming inside the volcano’s crater, a finding considered unprecedented.
• The footage suggests that complex marine life can survive extreme conditions, including heat, acidity and volcanic gases.

About Kavachi Volcano

• Location: Near the Solomon Islands, Pacific Ocean
• Type: Submarine volcano (conical seamount)
• Height: Rises about 1,200 metres from the seafloor
• Summit Depth: Only ~20 metres below sea level, making surface water discoloration detectable by satellites
• Structure: Volcanic caldera (crater-like depression)

Extreme Conditions Inside the Volcano

• Frequent eruptions releasing:
  • Lava
  • Ash
  • Superheated, acidic water
  • Volcanic gases and rock fragments
• Previously believed to be inhospitable to complex marine organisms

Eruptive History

• Has erupted at least 39 times since 1939
• Latest eruptive phase began in 2021, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program
• Named after Kavachi, a sea god revered by the Gatokae and Vangunu people

Scientific Significance

• Challenges existing understanding of marine survival limits
• Offers new insights into:
  • Adaptation of marine predators
  • Potential life in extreme environments, including analogues for extraterrestrial oceans
• Expands knowledge of deep-sea volcanism and ecology