Signatures of widespread Surtseyan volcanism at the northern Reykjanes ridge
Abstract Submarine explosive volcanism shapes seafloor morphology, impacts marine ecosystems, and poses risks to maritime infrastructure and coastal communities. However, its occurrences and drivers remain poorly constrained, especially for basaltic systems. Here we present evidence for widespread phreatomagmatic volcanism at the Reykjanes Ridge north of ~63.2°N, derived from high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, multibeam bathymetry, and seafloor imagery. Our data indicate a first-order depth control on eruption style: effusive volcanism dominates below ~300 m, producing hummocky edifices with strong seismic attenuation, whereas shallower depths favour Surtseyan eruptions, forming smooth volcanic cones with flanks comprising stratified, outward-dipping seismic reflections. When eruptions occur close to the water–air interface, flat-topped volcanoes form, some emerging as ephemeral islands before being submerged by storm wave base erosion. Our results show that Surtseyan eruptions have been a dominant and recurrent process along the Reykjanes Ridge north of ~63.2°N since the Last Glacial Maximum.
Authors
- S. Beethe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5671-1528)
- Dominik Pałgan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3876-6274)
- F.M. van der Zwan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3637-8609)
- Morgane Le Saout (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0398-073X)
- K. S. Panter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0990-5880)
- Jan Oliver Eisermann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3350-0445)
- Nico Augustin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1905-4773)
- Jonas Preine (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4481-2815)
- Lisa Ischebeck
- Benedikt Haimerl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3642-6597)
- Annalena Friedrich
- Maryse C. Schmidt
- Max Lackner
- Linus Budke
- Carina Dittmers
- Vanessa Ehlies
- Jonathan Ford
- Christian Hübscher
- David Þór Óðinsson
Institutions
- Oregon State University (US)
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt/M (DE)
- Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (DE)
- GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (DE)
- University of Gdańsk (PL)
- The Ocean Foundation (US)
- Marine and Freshwater Research Institute (IS)
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (IT)
- University of Bergen (NO)
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (US)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Earth & Environment
- Published
- 2025-12-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-03128-w
- Primary Topic
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00