Science: New Volcano

A new volcano that has been belching smoke and bad smells on San Benedicto Island, off the west coast of Mexico, probably blew its top two months ago. In July the Navy SOFAR (sound fixing and ranging) station in Hawaii picked up rumbling sounds on its hydrophones. Floating pumice of unknown origin was seen on the sea. But uninhabited San Benedicto Island is far from shipping lanes, and the volcano went on smoking and rumbling in private until it was reported by a tuna boat. Last week the first scientific report on its goings-on was made by Oceanographer Robert S. Dietz of the Navy Electronics Laboratory at San Diego.

Alerted by the tunamen, Dr. Dietz flew down in an Air Force weather-watching B29. The volcano was still going strong, but probably not as strong as when it was younger. It has built a cinder cone some 800 ft. above the former level of the rocky island. Every five or ten minutes it shoots up tons of gas and ash, then lies quiet for five or ten minutes. Between explosions, Dr. Dietz from his airplane took a deep look into the crater. He estimated that the temperature of the erupting throat is about 2,000° F. He also noticed the rotten-eggs odor of hydrogen sulfide, which volcanologists consider a sign that a volcano is quieting down.

The new volcano, which has no special name, is interesting to scientists because active volcanos in the western Pacific east of Hawaii are rare; this is the first that has erupted in historical times. But it probably will not last as long as Mexico’s other new volcano, the tourist gold mine Paricutin.