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Unnamed submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean

Northern EPR at 10.7°N

Fissure vent · Undersea Features · 2900m (submarine)

A temperature probe from the submersible vehicle Alvin collects data at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent located in a collapse structure in the East Pacific Rise area. The maximum temperatures reached only 9.5°C. This lava flow was erupted within only a few weeks to a few months of this November 2003 expedition. The flow was covered by bacterial mats, had large amounts of bacterial floc issuing from diffuse vents, and was sparsely populated by small animals.
A temperature probe from the submersible vehicle Alvin collects data at a low-temperature hydrothermal vent located in a collapse structure in the East Pacific Rise area. The maximum temperatures reached only 9.5°C. This lava flow was erupted within only a few weeks to a few months of this November 2003 expedition. The flow was covered by bacterial mats, had large amounts of bacterial floc issuing from diffuse vents, and was sparsely populated by small animals. · Photo: Photo courtesy J.R. Voight, 2003 (Ridge2000, National Science Foundation).
Type
Fissure vent
Country
Undersea Features
Region
Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Northern East Pacific Rise Volcanic Province
Elevation
2900m (submarine)
Coordinates
10.730, -103.580
Last eruption
2003
Tectonic setting
Intraplate / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

Divers in the submersible Alvin discovered an extremely fresh lava flow in an unexpected location at 10°44'N on the East Pacific Rise during an expedition in November 2003. The young flow was covered by bacterial mats, had large amounts of bacterial floc ("snow-blowers") issuing from diffuse vents, and was sparsely populated by small animals. Uranium-series dating indicated that the eruption had taken place within a time window only a few months to weeks prior to the observations. This segment of the East Pacific Rise, located just north of the Clipperton Transform Fault, is an area with an estimated low magma production rate.

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
2003~2003 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 020032003200420042004

Detailed timeline

  1. 2003VEI 0Observed
    2003-05-31 – 2003-10-15
    East Pacific Rise (10.73°N)

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.