Underwater Volcano Scientist

Science World spoke to Caplan-Auerbach last year, when she looked into ground-shaking Taylor Swift concerts using techniques for studying volcanoes (see “Quake It Off!,” Science World, December 18, 2023). Recently, Caplan-Auerbach discussed her main research focus with Science World: decoding the sounds of underwater volcanoes to learn more about the changes to the seafloor.

How do you study underwater volcanoes?

Scientists often can’t see or reach volcanoes deep underwater, so we have to get creative. I travel on a ship to the location of an underwater volcano. Then I drop a microphone called a hydrophone overboard. It records any sounds in the water, which can come from things like whales, ships, or volcanoes.

I also study data collected by seismometers placed on the seafloor. These instruments measure how much the ground shakes during a volcanic eruption. Imagine your friend is jumping on a trampoline, and you’re sketching the up and down motion. Your graph will look like squiggles. A seismometer does the same thing, except the trampoline is the seafloor. The fun part is figuring out if those squiggles were caused by an earthquake, a volcanic eruption, a landslide, or something else.

What do you hope to learn from your research?

I want to know how underwater volcanoes behave: How do they form, grow, and collapse? What conditions cause them to erupt? Understanding this could help scientists predict when that might happen. Additionally, lava comes from deep within Earth, so volcanic eruptions can teach scientists more about the planet’s interior.

Do underwater volcanoes pose a threat to people?

Volcanoes in the deep sea won’t hurt us. But those in shallower waters can be dangerous. An underwater eruption in 2022 near Tonga—a nation made up of 170 islands in the southern Pacific Ocean—caused extensive damage. The eruption spewed a huge plume of volcanic dust, rock, and toxic gases out of the ocean and into the atmosphere. It also triggered tsunamis in both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. These large ocean waves flooded areas of the islands, which killed several people and caused about $118 million in damage. Understanding the risks posed by underwater volcanoes can help us prepare nearby communities for when these eruptions occur.

How did you go from studying volcanoes to Taylor Swift concerts?

In 2023, I recorded the shaking from Taylor Swift’s concert in Seattle, Washington, just like I would for a volcano. There’s a seismometer close to the stadium, and I could match the data to the tempo of her songs, like “Shake It Off!” It was super fun because Swifties helped with my research. Plus, it was a great opportunity to understand how the ground shakes in Seattle, since we’re at high risk for earthquakes. By studying how some parts of the city shake in comparison to others, we can better prepare ourselves in case an actual earthquake strikes.