South Kermadec Ridge Seamounts
The South Kermadec Ridge Seamounts are a chain of underwater volcanic formations located along the Kermadec Ridge, in the Pacific Ocean. This region marks the convergent boundary where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Indo-Australian Plate, forming the Kermadec Trench, one of the deepest oceanic trenches in the world.[1][2]
| South Kermadec Ridge Seamounts | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Coordinates | 35°30′S 178°12′E / 35.500°S 178.200°E |
| Geography | |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Region | Pacific Ocean |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Quaternary |
| Mountain type | Volcanic island arc |
| Type of rock | Seamount chain |
| Last eruption | 2008 (Rumble III) |
The seamounts are part of a larger volcanic island arc system that became active during the Quaternary period. The Kermadec Ridge extends southwest from the Kermadec Islands towards New Zealand's North Island, and northeast towards Tonga.[3][4][5]
Geology
changeThe South Kermadec Ridge Seamounts are part of a relatively young oceanic arc-back-arc system in the Kermadec Arc - Havre Trough, and include several significant seamounts with varying depths:
- Speight Knoll −1,840 metres (−6,037 ft) 32°23′18″S 179°35′28″E / 32.3883°S 179.591°E
- Oliver Knoll −2,200 metres (−7,218 ft) 32°23′40″S 179°40′20″E / 32.39448°S 179.67231°E
- Haungaroa Seamount −660 metres (−2,165 ft) 32°36′55″S 179°37′18″E / 32.6152°S 179.6217°E
- Kuiwai Seamount −560 metres (−1,837 ft) 33°09′32″S 179°57′23″E / 33.159°S 179.9565°E
- Ngātoroirangi Seamount −340 metres (−1,115 ft) 33°44′07″S 179°47′48″E / 33.73533°S 179.79666°E
- Brothers Seamount −1,350 metres (−4,429 ft) 34°52′30″S 179°04′30″E / 34.875°S 179.075°E
- Rumble III Seamount −140 metres (−459 ft) 35°44′42″S 178°28′41″E / 35.745°S 178.478°E
The Brothers Seamount features two large calderas, formed during a major volcanic eruption in 1360 ± 75 CE. Rumble III Seamount is the largest of the Rumbles seamount chain and has experienced multiple eruptions, the most recent being on 2 July 2008.
Notable Seamounts
changeOther significant seamounts in the area include:
- Sonne Seamount 34°04′00″S 179°35′00″E / 34.066667°S 179.583333°E
- Kibblewhite Seamount −990 metres (−3,248 ft) 34°34′34″S 179°15′43″E / 34.5762°S 179.262°E
- Gill Seamount −1,200 metres (−3,937 ft) 34°37′12″S 178°22′30″E / 34.62°S 178.375°E
- Yokosuka Seamount −1,060 metres (−3,478 ft) 34°42′S 178°34′E / 34.7°S 178.57°E
- Rapuhia Seamount −650 metres (−2,133 ft) 34°46′S 178°30′E / 34.77°S 178.5°E
- Rumble I Seamount −1,100 metres (−3,609 ft) 35°30′S 178°54′E / 35.5°S 178.9°E
Eruptions
changeThe Rumble III Seamount has erupted multiple times, with notable eruptions occurring on:
- 9 July 1958
- 16 January 1963
- 15 October 1973
- 15 June 1986
- 2 July 2008
References
change- ↑ Wright, I. C (1994-05-01). "Nature and tectonic setting of the southern Kermadec submarine arc volcanoes: An overview". Marine Geology. 118 (3): 217–236. doi:10.1016/0025-3227(94)90085-X. ISSN 0025-3227.
- ↑ "Global Volcanism Program | Report on Rumble III (New Zealand) — February 2011". volcano.si.edu. doi:10.5479/si.gvp.bgvn201102-241130. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ↑ Billen, Magali I.; Gurnis, Michael (2005-05). "Constraints on subducting plate strength within the Kermadec trench". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 110 (B5). doi:10.1029/2004JB003308. ISSN 0148-0227.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ↑ "Global Volcanism Program". Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ↑ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334050397