USCG’s Only Research Icebreaker Discovers Volcano-like Underwater Feature In Arctic Ocean

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy (WAGB 20) and its scientific team made an unexpected discovery during their 2024 Arctic Fall mission: a volcano-like feature beneath the Arctic Ocean.

The discovery was made during the first phase of their research, which focused on mapping unchartered waters off Alaska’s northern and western coasts.

The team worked alongside partners from the United States National Science Foundation (NSF), NOAA, and the University of New Hampshire and spotted an underwater feature that rises 500 meters from the seafloor and is located around 1,600 meters below the surface.

Further inspections also revealed traces of a gas plume rising from the feature. The team assured that there is no risk to navigation as the feature lies far below the depth of larger vessels.

Capt. Meghan McGovern of NOAA, who accompanied the Healy crew for this research, said the discovery is exciting and helps fill in the many unknowns about what lies beneath the Arctic Ocean.

She added that the data will be crucial for improving navigation safety in the region.

Apart from the discovery, the mission also involved training young scientists.

The Polar Early Career Scientist Training Project, funded by the National Science Foundation, provided postdoctoral researchers and early-career scientists with valuable hands-on experience in Arctic research.

Reference: USCG