The idea of a ‘ghost’ island might sound like a concept from the latest episode of Scooby Doo.
But it has become a reality in the Caspian Sea.
NASA satellites spotted a mysterious island – before watching it vanish entirely.
The landmass emerged off the coast of Azerbaijan after a mud volcano erupted in early 2023.
But by the end of 2024, it had nearly eroded away.
According to NASA Earth Observatory, the island retreated from view ‘like an apparition.’
‘Powerful eruptions of the Kumani Bank mud volcano have produced similar transient islands several times since its first recorded eruption in 1861,’ it explained.
‘Also known as Chigil-Deniz, the feature is located about 25 kilometers (15 miles) off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan.’
NASA’s Landsat 8 and 9 satellites captured images of the island on November 18 2022 (left), February 14 2023 (centre), and December 25 2024 (right)
NASA’s Landsat 8 and 9 satellites captured images of the island on November 18 2022, February 14 2023, and December 25 2024.
In November, the crest of the volcano remained below the sea surface.
But by the Feburary image, the island had appeared, and a sediment plume driftd away from it.
According to Mark Tingay, a geologist at the University of Adelaide, additional satellite observations suggest the island between January 30 and February 4 and measured approximately 400 meters (1,300 feet) across.
However, by the end of 2024, the island had disappeared, with a ‘greatly diminished’ portion of the Kumani Bank left visible above the water.
The volcano’s previous eight recorded eruptions occurred in bursts lasting less than two days, and produced islands of different sizes and longevities.
‘A May 1861 event resulted in an island just 87 meters (285 feet) across and 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) above the water,’ NASA said.
‘This one eroded away by early 1862.
In November, the crest of the volcano remained below the sea surface. But by Feburary (pictured), the island had appeared, and a sediment plume driftd away from it
An artist’s impression of NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite, which snapped the photos of the ‘ghost’ island
‘The strongest eruption, in 1950, produced an island 700 meters (2,300 feet) across and 6 meters (20 feet) high.’
Mr Tingay describes mud volcanoes as ‘weird and wonderful features’, but admits that they’re ‘largely understudied and little understood’.
Most mud volcanoes are found in areas with active tectonics – with Azerbaijan unusual for its high concentration.
‘Geologists have tallied more than 300 in eastern Azerbaijan and offshore in the Caspian Sea, with most of those occurring on land,’ NASA said.
‘The region falls within a convergence zone where the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates are colliding.’
Worryingly, mud volcanoes have the potential to be hazardous thanks to their ability to expel large amounts of materials – and even flames – over a short period of time.
‘It is uncertain if the 2023 Kumani Bank eruption was fiery, but past eruptions of this and other nearby mud volcanoes have sent towers of flame hundreds of meters into the air,’ NASA added.