What do you need to know about the seamount?
Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research What is a seamount? A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides rising from the seafloor.
What makes a seamount a hotspot for marine life?
Seamount is an underwater mountain formed by volcanic activity. Today, scientists recognize these structures as biological hotspots that support a dazzling array of marine life. The biological richness of seamount habitats results from the shape of these undersea mountains. Thanks to the steep slopes of seamounts,…
Who was the first person to describe the sea otter?
The first scientific description of the sea otter is contained in the field notes of Georg Steller from 1751, and the species was described by Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae of 1758. Originally named Lutra marina, it underwent numerous name changes before being accepted as Enhydra lutris in 1922.
How did the Hawaiian seamount get its name?
The seamount was named in honor of OER’s remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer for its role in the discoveries made during an expedition to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Colors represent water depth in meters as defined in the color key. Credit: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, 2016 Hohonu Moana.
How is a seamount different from a volcano?
What are Seamounts? Seamounts are underwater mountains that rise hundreds or thousands of feet from the seafloor. They are generally extinct volcanoes that, while active, created piles of lava that sometimes break the ocean surface.
Which is an example of a seamount chain?
Seamount. Seamount chains in the Pacific basin tend to be aligned northwesterly, and several chains are intimately associated with fracture zones; the Eltanin Fracture Zone in the southwestern Pacific is an example. At least one seamount chain, the New England Seamounts, lies in the northwestern Atlantic.
How are seamounts formed in the Pacific Ocean?
They were formed through volcanic activities and have subsided way below the water surface. The three main ocean basins have seamount chains, with the most number occurring in the Pacific Ocean. Isolated seamounts such as Bollons Seamounts, Axial Seamounts, and Gorringe Ridge are less common.