NASA’s Satelites Observe the Birth and Death of an Island in the Caspian Sea

Mark
NASA's Satelites Observe the Birth and Death of an Island in the Caspian Sea
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We often think of the land beneath our feet as steady and unchanging. But in reality, some parts of the Earth’s surface are constantly shifting. One of the most dramatic examples of this is the Kumani Bank mud volcano, also known as Chigil-Deniz, located about 15 miles (25 km) off Azerbaijan’s coast in the Caspian Sea.

NASA’s Earth Observatory recently shared a fascinating series of images captured by the Operational Land Imager (OLI) on the Landsat 8 and 9 satellites. These pictures reveal the incredible formation and rapid erosion of a new island.

In the first image, taken in November 2022, the area is entirely underwater with no visible land. However, following an eruption in early 2023, a new island appeared. This island, formed between January 30 and February 4, 2023, stretched about 1,300 feet (400 meters) across. Its creation was marked by a long trail of sediment extending into the sea.

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Image credit: NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey

Fast forward to the end of 2024, and the island had all but vanished, reduced to a tiny speck in the water. The sea had swiftly eroded what once was a significant landmass, a common fate for such islands.

This isn’t the first time the Kumani Bank mud volcano has created a temporary island. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, there have been eight recorded eruptions since May 1861. The largest island from these events appeared in 1950, measuring 2,300 feet (700 meters) wide and standing 20 feet (6 meters) tall.

Interestingly, similar structures have been observed on Mars. Researchers believe that some circular mounds in the planet’s northern lowlands might be mud volcanoes, hinting at geological processes that mirror those on Earth.

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Mark is the kind of person who gets way too excited about new software updates and can’t resist taking apart gadgets—just to see if they can put them back together. With years of experience in tech journalism and a love for all things digital, Mark writes about the stories behind the screens, from game-changing innovations to the everyday tech that keeps life running smoothly. Outside of work, they’re the go-to “tech support” for friends and family, whether it’s fixing a printer that won’t cooperate or explaining why Grandma’s laptop keeps showing pop-ups. When Mark isn’t glued to their screen, they’re probably building their dream PC, rewatching sci-fi movies for the hundredth time, or testing a gadget that promises to “change everything.” Spoiler: they’ll let you know if it actually does.