How do underwater volcanoes erupt?

Underwater volcanoes form much like volcanoes on dry land, by a process known as subduction. This occurs as a result of the tectonic plates which form the top layer of the earth's mantle, just below the earth's crust. They support the weight of the continents and the combined water of the seas. read more

Underwater volcanoes form much like volcanoes on dry land, by a process known as subduction. This occurs as a result of the tectonic plates which form the top layer of the earth's mantle, just below the earth's crust. read more

An eruption of an underwater volcano, which causes pillow basalts, is the same as an eruption on land, except that the eruption cools more quickly. Learn about underwater gas eruptions from volcanoes with help from the chair of a department of environmental studies in this video on volcano eruptions. read more

Submarine volcanoes are underwater vents or fissures in the Earth's surface from which magma can erupt. A large number of submarine volcanoes are located near areas of tectonic plate movement, known as mid-ocean ridges. The volcanoes at mid-ocean ridges alone are estimated to account for 75% of the magma output on Earth. read more