Scientists have discovered the remains of a massive supervolcano deep beneath England's east coast. Centred under The Wash and extending into Norfolk and Lincolnshire, the ancient volcano measured at least 65km (40 miles) across.
The supervolcano erupted 454 million years ago with the force of several thousand hydrogen bombs. Experts at the British Geological Survey (BGS) believe this eruption accounts for a significant layer of volcanic ash spread across Norway, Sweden, the Baltic region, Belarus, and Poland.
Dr Tim Pharaoh of the BGS, a principal author of the research, stated that the discovery changes the understanding of England's deep geological past. He confirmed that the Wash supervolcano is now extinct and poses no future threat, as volcanoes cannot be reactivated once they have gone extinct.
The discovery followed a fresh analysis of rock samples taken 80 years ago from boreholes in North Creake, Norfolk, and Claxby, Lincolnshire. Scientists re-examined these samples during the Covid lockdown using new equipment and techniques, finding that tiny zircon crystals indicated the samples were formed at the same time and from the same volcano.