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Esmeralda Bank

Stratovolcano · United States · 74m (submarine)

A bathymetric model with 2x vertical exaggeration shows the Esmeralda Bank submarine volcano, as seen from the NW. Depths in this image range from 54 to 2,052 m. Bathymetry data (~25 m resolution) is overlaid on SeaBat data (~50 m resolution) courtesy of Yoshihiko Tamura (JAMSTEC). The main central edifice seen here has a 3-km summit crater open to the W. Sulfur and water discoloration from eruptive or geothermal activity have frequently been observed.
A bathymetric model with 2x vertical exaggeration shows the Esmeralda Bank submarine volcano, as seen from the NW. Depths in this image range from 54 to 2,052 m. Bathymetry data (~25 m resolution) is overlaid on SeaBat data (~50 m resolution) courtesy of Yoshihiko Tamura (JAMSTEC). The main central edifice seen here has a 3-km summit crater open to the W. Sulfur and water discoloration from eruptive or geothermal activity have frequently been observed. · Photo: Image courtesy of Susan Merle (Oregon State University/NOAA Vents Program). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
United States
Region
Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Mariana Volcanic Arc
Elevation
74m (submarine)
Coordinates
14.958, 145.249
Last eruption
Unknown
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Esmeralda Bank is a massive submarine volcano with three cones oriented N-S over about 15 km. The high points on the crater rim of the large middle edifice, with a collapse scarp open to the W, are about 75 m below the ocean surface. Frequent sulfur-rich surface bubbling and water discoloration have been observed, which have variously been attributed to eruptive events or fumarolic activity.

From Wikipedia

Esmeralda Bank is a submarine volcano around 37 km west of Tinian Island of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is located at the southern end of the Mariana Arc. It has three summit cones lying along a north–south line. The highest peak is about 43 meters below the sea surface and has a caldera about 3 kilometers wide and several parasitic cones on the edge of the caldera. Sulfur boils and water discoloration have been observed at the site of the volcano, attributed to either eruptions or fumarolic activity.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1944~1948 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01961~1966 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21970~1974 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01974~1978 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01978~1983 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 01983~1987 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 019441953196619741983

Detailed timeline

  1. 1987VEI 0Geological estimate
    1987-05-26 – Ongoing
  2. 1982VEI 0Geological estimate
    1982-04-06 – Ongoing
  3. 1975VEI 0Geological estimate
    1975-04-26 – 1975-04-29
  4. 1970 (±1 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    1970-07-02 – Ongoing
  5. 1964VEI 2Geological estimate
    1964-04-14 – Ongoing
  6. 1944VEI 0Geological estimate
    1944-08-20 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.