Description

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Context:

According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, the island was a result of the powerful eruption of the Kumani Bank mud volcano, which lies about 25 kilometers (15 miles) off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan.

A transient “ghost island”, born from a mud volcano eruption in the Caspian Sea, has captivated researchers.

Details

The island emerged in early 2023, only to recede into the sea by the end of 2024, offering a fleeting glimpse into the volatile forces beneath the Earth’s surface.

About Kumani Bank Mud Volcano: Located approximately 25 km off the east coast of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.

About Mud Volcano

Category	Details
Definition	A small cone of mud and clay shaped like a volcano, usually less than a few meters high.
Craters	Shallow, with mud occasionally erupting to renew the cone.
Erosion	Cones are relatively easily eroded due to constant eruptions.
Formation by Hot Springs	Created by chemical reactions between gas, water, and surrounding rocks, forming boiling mud.
Variants	Slurry Jar: Container of boiling mud eroding surrounding rock.
	Dye Pot: Boiling mud colored yellow, green, or blue by minerals.
Formation in Oil Fields	Found in young, soft, unconsolidated formations in oil fields.
	Methane and hydrocarbon gases mixed with mud are pushed to the surface, forming cones.
Characteristics	Mud is often hot, may emit steam plumes, and forms due to compaction pressure.
Safety	Not true volcanoes; only emit warm mud and are less dangerous than true volcanoes.
	The largest mud volcanoes may flood landscapes, displacing people and damaging infrastructure.
Global Distribution	Europe and Asia: Ukraine, Italy, Romania, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, China.
	Americas: Alaska, California, Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia.
Count	Approximately 1,000 were identified on land and in shallow water.

What is Ghost Island?

A ghost island refers to a temporary land mass created by volcanic activity, especially mud volcanoes, that erodes back into the water over time.
Transient nature: The island, which measures 400 meters across and was created in 2023, almost disappeared into the sea by the end of 2024.

Importance

Helps scientists understand tectonic processes and subsurface pressure dynamics.
Provides clues about similar features on Mars and aids in planetary exploration studies.
Related to the hydrocarbon system in the South Caspian Basin, contributing to methane and gas emissions.
Highlights the unique geological landscape of Azerbaijan, which boasts more than 300 mud volcanoes, the largest concentration in the world.

READ ABOUT

Caspian Sea

TYPES OF VOLCANO

Source:

https://www.livemint.com/news/trends/ghost-island-appears-and-disappears-in-caspian-sea-you-won-t-believe-how-quickly-it-vanished-11736862793536.html

PRACTICE QUESTION

Consider the following statements regarding mud volcanoes:
They are formed by chemical reactions between gas, water, and surrounding rocks, resulting in the eruption of boiling mud.
The eruption of mud volcanoes can lead to the formation of cones, which are relatively resistant to erosion due to constant eruptions.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Mud volcanoes are formed by chemical reactions between gas, water, and surrounding rocks, leading to the eruption of boiling mud.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Mud volcanoes are relatively easily eroded due to constant eruptions, not resistant to erosion. Mud volcanoes are less dangerous than true volcanoes as they only emit warm mud and are not explosive.