Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
On May 8, 2026, signs of a submarine volcanic eruption were detected in the Central Bismarck Sea, a deep and geologically complex ocean basin north of Papua New Guinea. The eruption is occurring along the Titan Ridge, about 16 kilometers southeast of a known 1972 eruption site. However, the exact volcanic feature, the vent's depth, and its prior activity remain unclear due to limited high-resolution seafloor mapping in the area and gaps in scientific consensus.
Seismometers recorded a small swarm of earthquakes starting May 8, followed by satellite observations indicating submarine eruption. Starting May 9, NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites captured optical images of white, steam-rich volcanic plumes above the ocean surface. The PACE satellite detected changes in water color and disturbance near the eruption site. Other satellites observed ash plumes rising several kilometers into the atmosphere.
Higher-resolution images from ESA’s Sentinel-2 and NASA/USGS Landsat 9 satellites on May 10 and 11 showed detailed surface activity. On May 12, the VIIRS instrument on the Suomi NPP satellite detected thermal anomalies spanning about seven square kilometers, suggesting a substantial amount of hot material near the water's surface and a relatively shallow eruption.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center chief scientist Jim Garvin noted that the lack of detailed ocean floor maps in the region poses challenges, but offers significant research opportunities using government and commercial satellite systems.