Most of the Earth’s volcanic activity takes place at plate boundaries like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, or within plates at hotspots, such as Hawaii. However, there’s another class of within-plate volcanic activity that can’t be explained by either of these processes.

This NSF-funded project, #RR2403, will explore why this type of volcanism occurs in places that don’t fit the usual patterns. The science team is focusing on the Revillagigedo Archipelago, which is an area of volcanic features, such as seamounts.

With no active plate boundary and no evidence of a deep root beneath it, the Revillagigedo Archipelago provides an ideal location to test ideas about why this kind of volcanism occurs.

From March 29, 2024 through April 27, 2024, the science team will board the RV Roger Revelle for a research cruise to these islands, where they will study the seafloor and measure properties of the ocean crust. Submersible dives via ROV Jason/Medea will observe the underwater volcanic systems and collect samples of lava.

Across nine dives, the team plans to collect around 200 rock samples or scoops, approximately 8 push cores, and potentially 8 water samples using Niskin bottles. Stay tuned for updates from #RR2403, and follow @scienceatsea on Instagram for more science and daily life at sea!