Satellite imaging reveals ocean has nearly twice as many mountains as thought, study says

Nearly 20,000 new mountains were recently discovered. Very few people are ever likely to see them, though.

The newfound summits — which range in size from mere hills to Mount Washington-sized peaks — are located at the bottom of the ocean, according to a study published on April 6 in the journal Earth and Space Science.

In total, 19,325 underwater mountains, known as seamounts, were found, nearly doubling the known global total. These summits are defined as active or extinct volcanoes on the ocean floor that are generally taller than 3,200 feet, though smaller ones have been included.

Previously 24,643 seamounts had been mapped, researchers said, including Mauna Kea, a partially submerged Hawaiian volcano that claims the title of world’s tallest peak, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Typically ships equipped with sonar mapping technology are used to identify seamounts, but this is a time-consuming and costly process, researchers said, adding that only 20% of the seafloor has been mapped this way.

The newfound deep sea peaks were instead identified using satellite observations, which provide immediate and complete coverage of the world’s oceans, researchers said.

Though satellites cannot peer deep into the ocean, satellite altimetry technology can detect minor gravitational anomalies at the surface that indicate the presence of peaks below. This process provides a lower quality but more comprehensive view of the seafloor.

The smallest seamount discovered was about 1,300 feet tall, while the largest was around 8,200 feet tall, meaning it is roughly the same size as Mount St. Helens in Washington.

By filling in the blanks on the map of the seafloor, researchers can gain a better understanding of the Earth’s oceanographical, geographic and ecological processes.

Identifying more seamounts could also lessen risks for mariners.

The USS Connecticut, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, struck an uncharted seamount in the South China Sea in 2021, damaging the vessel, according to the United States Naval Institute.

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