Kick ’em Jenny started stirring on July 11, and has produced more than 200 small earthquakes since then, according to the Seismic Research Center at the University of the West Indies.
Even though the crater is about 600 feet (180 meters) below the surface of the ocean, the volcano is a hazard to locals and ships in the region.
Stay away, ships warned
To clear its path and reduce risks, scientists set up an exclusion zone for ships around the volcano. Recreational ships must stay at least 5 kilometers (3 miles) away from the summit of the volcano.
If it erupts, Kick ’em Jenny could displace seawater and produce a tsunami, though the risks of that are relatively low, scientists say. If an eruption causes a tsunami, it is likely to be small and confined to nearby islands.
But other risks to shipping and marine vessels in the region are especially significant.
Underwater or submarine volcanoes release intense amounts of gas into the sea during eruptions — and at times in between eruptions during a process called degassing. Read More
