A caldera is a large crater-like feature formed after a volcanic eruption. It’s formed as a byproduct of an eruption, when magma is expelled forcefully from within the magma chamber underneath the volcano. Because the structural support that the magma chamber had provided the volcano disappears, it causes the sides and top of the volcano to collapse inward.
Calderas often vary in size ranging from 1 to 100 kilometres in diameter.
The geophysicists, who number among them New Zealand-based Filipino scientist Jenny Anne Barreto, have decided to name the caldera “Apolkai”.
“Apolaki” means “giant lord” and is based on the Filipino mythical god of the sun and war.
The Apolaki caldera has a diameter of roughly 150 kilometres, making it twice the size of Wyoming’s Yellowstone Caldera in the US which is only about 60 km.
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An announcement of the discovery was posted to the Facebook page of The University of Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI).
In its statement, the University wrote:”THE WORLD’S LARGEST CALDERA IS IN THE PHILIPPINES
“Jenny Anne Barretto, a Filipina marine geophysicist based in New Zealand, recently published a paper, along with Ray Wood and John Milsom, describing the morphology and formation of the Benham Rise.
“Among their findings is the existence of the Apolaki Caldera within Benham Rise, which may be the world’s largest known caldera with a diameter of ~150 km.”
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The discovery has provided a major boost to the morale of Filipino scientists, who have been frustrated in their research efforts by their government’s lack of support and funding.
In a recent interview with CNN, UP MSI researcher Jeffrey Maloles explained that Filipino scientists had all the necessary training and knowledge to conduct high level research.
However, because they lacked state funding, these scientists were forced to leave the country to carry out their research.
He said:”We do what we do, to raise awareness on the importance of our seas to food supplies, ecological stability, and physical climate in the country.
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“For a field that is under-appreciated and doesn’t pay much, we do this — without sounding cheesy — para sa bayan (for the country).”
One of Europe’s largest caldera is the famous Campi Flegrei, which means “burning fields” in Italian
The super-volcano is 8 miles wide and sits beneath the Bay of Naples offshore Italy.
It is believed to have formed hundreds of thousands of years ago and has erupted on several occasions in recent geologic time.
The initial eruption, which occurred 200,000 years ago triggered a “volcanic winter” from the massive amount of ash ejected into the atmosphere.
The volcano then erupted again 40,000 and 12,000 years ago.
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The eruption 40,000 years ago is thought to have wiped out most of the European Neanderthals and was one of the largest volcanic eruptions of all time.
In recent memory, Campi Flegrei erupted in 1538 for 8 days straight, sending ash across Europe and forming the new mountain Monte Nuovo.
Today, there is no sign of an imminent reawakening, although there are abundant signs of the presence of a still active magma chamber in the forms of solfataras, warm springs, and gas emissions.