NASA Satellites Spot a ‘Ghost Island’ in Caspian Sea

NASA satellites have captured an intriguing phenomenon in the Caspian Sea: the temporary emergence of an island after the eruption of the Kumani mud volcano.

According to data from NASA’s Earth Observatory, the island appeared in early 2023 but had almost entirely disappeared by late 2024, earning it the nickname “ghost island,” The Caspian Post reports.

The island was first detected using Landsat 8 and 9 satellite imagery in January 2023, shortly after the volcano erupted. It measured up to 400 meters wide and was accompanied by a sedimentary plume visible from space. However, by the end of 2024, the island had significantly shrunk, leaving only faint remnants behind.

The Kumani mud volcano, located 25 kilometers off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan, is known for such transient occurrences. Since its first eruption in 1861, the volcano has periodically created temporary islands that vanish shortly after formation. Mud volcanoes like Kumani are typical in regions with active tectonic activity, as they eject high-pressure mixtures of water, gas, and sediment, forming unstable landmasses.

Azerbaijan and the Caspian Sea shelf are home to more than 300 mud volcanoes, many of which emit methane, attracting the attention of scientists and geologists. These volcanoes’ connection to the hydrocarbon systems of the South Caspian Basin makes them key subjects for research.

The formation and disappearance of the “ghost island” highlight the dynamic geological processes at work in the region, emphasizing the need for further study of mud volcanoes and their role in shaping the landscape of the Caspian Sea.