A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea
Abstract Global estimates on the number of submarine mud volcanoes are highly uncertain, as well as their role in the deep-sea biosphere and methane budgets. Here, we report the discovery of ten Arctic mud volcanoes in the Barents Sea (440–480 m depth), where only two had been previously known. The...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99578-5 |
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| author | Claudio Argentino Rune Mattingsdal Tor Eidvin Sverre Ekrene Ohm Giuliana Panieri |
| author_facet | Claudio Argentino Rune Mattingsdal Tor Eidvin Sverre Ekrene Ohm Giuliana Panieri |
| author_sort | Claudio Argentino |
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| description | Abstract Global estimates on the number of submarine mud volcanoes are highly uncertain, as well as their role in the deep-sea biosphere and methane budgets. Here, we report the discovery of ten Arctic mud volcanoes in the Barents Sea (440–480 m depth), where only two had been previously known. The new mud volcanoes form flat-topped mounds on the seafloor and are connected to seismic chimneys rooted within the infilling of a buried Pleistocene mega-slide scar. We suggest informally naming the area the Polaris Mud Volcano Complex. These structures have been active at least since the Late Weichselian deglaciation (< 20 ka), displaying evidence of ongoing methane-rich mud expulsion, i.e. mud pools and flows and chemosynthetic fauna. Finally, we propose a conceptual model for their formation which can be exported to other similar settings. Given the widespread occurrence of mega-slides and associated deposits along (paleo)glaciated continental margins, our findings call for a re-evaluation of mud volcanism potential in such regions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d7e0953fca43496da79ef5d4339d863b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-d7e0953fca43496da79ef5d4339d863b2025-08-20T03:31:41ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-99578-5A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents SeaClaudio Argentino0Rune Mattingsdal1Tor Eidvin2Sverre Ekrene Ohm3Giuliana Panieri4Department of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayNorwegian Offshore DirectorateRetired from the Norwegian Offshore DirectorateDepartment of Energy Resources, University of StavangerDepartment of Geosciences, UiT The Arctic University of NorwayAbstract Global estimates on the number of submarine mud volcanoes are highly uncertain, as well as their role in the deep-sea biosphere and methane budgets. Here, we report the discovery of ten Arctic mud volcanoes in the Barents Sea (440–480 m depth), where only two had been previously known. The new mud volcanoes form flat-topped mounds on the seafloor and are connected to seismic chimneys rooted within the infilling of a buried Pleistocene mega-slide scar. We suggest informally naming the area the Polaris Mud Volcano Complex. These structures have been active at least since the Late Weichselian deglaciation (< 20 ka), displaying evidence of ongoing methane-rich mud expulsion, i.e. mud pools and flows and chemosynthetic fauna. Finally, we propose a conceptual model for their formation which can be exported to other similar settings. Given the widespread occurrence of mega-slides and associated deposits along (paleo)glaciated continental margins, our findings call for a re-evaluation of mud volcanism potential in such regions.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99578-5 |
| spellingShingle | Claudio Argentino Rune Mattingsdal Tor Eidvin Sverre Ekrene Ohm Giuliana Panieri A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea Scientific Reports |
| title | A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea |
| title_full | A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea |
| title_fullStr | A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea |
| title_short | A constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried Arctic mega-slide, Southwestern Barents Sea |
| title_sort | constellation of mud volcanoes originated from a buried arctic mega slide southwestern barents sea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99578-5 |
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