Nature & Environment
NASA photographs 'ghost island' that vanishes 'like an apparition'
By
T.K. RandallJanuary 13, 2025 ·
2 comments
The progression of the island. Image Credit: NASA / Landsat
The island was captured on satellite imagery in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan.
Landmasses change over time - that much is well established - but what many people likely don't realize is that some can appear and then disappear again within the space of mere months.
An example of this phenomenon was recently highlighted by NASA when its Landsat 8 and 9 satellites spotted an island appearing out of nowhere off the coast of Azerbaijan back in early 2023.
It was formed by an eruption of the Kumani Bank mud volcano situated 25km off the coast.
When it first appeared, the island measured around 400 meters across, but by the end of 2024 it had all but vanished.
This isn't the first time an island has appeared and then disappeared in the region either - this phenomenon has been occurring for hundreds of years.
"A May 1861 event resulted in an island just 87 meters (285 feet) across and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) above the water," NASA wrote. "This one eroded away by early 1862."
"The strongest eruption, in 1950, produced an island 700 meters (2,300 feet) across and 6 meters (20 feet) high."
"It is uncertain if the 2023 Kumani Bank eruption was fiery, but past eruptions of this and other nearby mud volcanoes have sent towers of flame hundreds of meters into the air."
Source:
Mail Online |
Comments (2)
Tags:
Island
Please Login or Register to post a comment.