seafloor

Aquanauts experience a profound sense of awe during extended stays on the seafloor, described as the 'underview effect,' which parallels astronauts' 'overview effect' in space. The phenomenon highlights a dramatic emotional response to prolonged underwater exploration.

Satellites captured images of an underwater volcano erupting, but scientists remain uncertain about the seafloor activity. The image, taken by the OLI on Landsat 9 on May 11, 2026, shows closely spaced volcanic plumes three days after the eruption began.

Scientists have discovered hidden 'brake zones' in an underwater fault near Ecuador that stop massive earthquakes from becoming larger. The fault produces nearly identical magnitude 6 earthquakes every five to six years. Researchers used ultra-detailed seafloor recordings to capture the fault's behavior before and after major earthquakes.