Satellites Spot Ephemeral Island in the Caspian Sea
NASA’s Landsat 8 and 9 satellites have captured fascinating images of the Caspian Sea’s coastal zone, revealing the presence of a mysterious “phantom” island. This ephemeral island, named Chigil-deniz, materialized approximately 25 kilometers off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan following the eruption of the Kumani mud volcano in early 2023.
The island, which appeared as if out of thin air, began to erode rapidly and by the end of 2024, it had completely disappeared, leaving researchers astonished by its ghostly existence. This phenomenon is not new, as the Kumani mud volcano has been known to create temporary islands with its powerful eruptions since 1861.
In the past, eight eruptions of the Kumani mud volcano have resulted in the formation of similar short-lived islands. These islands varied in size, with the smallest being only 87 meters wide and 3.5 meters high, eroding within a year of formation. The largest island created by the volcano was in 1950, measuring 700 meters wide and six meters high.
The discovery of Chigil-deniz adds to the geological mysteries of the Caspian Sea region, highlighting the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our planet’s landscapes. Researchers continue to monitor the Kumani mud volcano and its eruptions, eager to unravel the secrets of these ephemeral islands that appear and vanish like phantoms in the sea.
The images taken by NASA’s satellites offer a glimpse into the unique geological processes at play in the Caspian Sea, showcasing the beauty and unpredictability of nature’s creations. As we marvel at these fleeting islands, we are reminded of the awe-inspiring power of the Earth to shape and reshape the world around us.
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Source:
ORIENT news
Photo: naked-science.ru
