Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain

The Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain is the Hawaiian Islands and the Emperor Seamounts: together they form a vast underwater mountain region of islands, seamounts, atolls, shallows, banks and reefs. The line goes southeast to northwest beneath the northern Pacific Ocean; and many of the underwater mountains are guyots.Frankel, Henry R. (2012).  "The Continental Drift Controversy: Introduction of Seafloor Spreading," p. 292; Clague D.A. & G.B. Dalrymple. 1987.  "The Hawaiian-Emperor volcanic chain, Part I. Geologic evolution," In R.W. Decker, T.L. Wright & P.H. Stauffer, eds. Volcanism in Hawaii, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1350, pp. 5-54; retrieved 2012-6-9.

The seamount chain, with over 80 identified undersea volcanoes, stretches over  from the Aleutian Trench in the far northwest Pacific to the Loʻihi seamount, the youngest volcano in the chain, which lies about  southeast of the Island of Hawaiʻi. 

The oldest age for the Emperor Seamounts is 81 million years, and comes from Detroit Seamount. However, Meiji Guyot, located to the north of Detroit Seamount, is likely somewhat older.

In 1963, geologist John Tuzo Wilson explained that the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain was created by a hotspot of volcanic activity that stood as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over it. This left a trail of volcanic islands and seamounts. A "bend" or "V" in the chain marks a shift in the movement of the Pacific plate some 47 million years ago, from a northward to a more northwesterly direction. The bend shows how a tectonic plate can shift direction suddenly. A look at the USGS map on the origin of the Hawaiian Islands clearly shows this "spearpoint".

Recent research shows that the hotspot itself may have moved with time. Some evidence comes from analysis of the orientation of the ancient magnetic field preserved by magnetite in ancient lava flows sampled at four seamounts.

 Hawaiian Islands and Seamounts 
+Name Last Eruption DateTypeAgeNotesKamaʻehuakanaloa 
Seamount 
(formerly Lōʻihi)1996seamount400000 yearsthe youngest of the Hawaiian volcanoes. last eruption occurred in 1996 which formed a crater known as "Pele's pit". will eventually breach the surface and become the newest Hawaiian island.Kīlauea2021-now shield volcano300000-600000 years agothe youngest Hawaiian volcano above sea level. has been in almost continuous eruption from 1983-2018 and since 2021Mauna Loa2022-NowShield volcano700000-1 million yearscurrently the largest subaerial volcano on earth Hualālai1800-1801shield volcano> 300000Mauna Kea4460 Years Ago (YA)shield volcano~1 million yearsConsidered to be the largest mountain in the world from base to summitkohala120000 YAshield volcano120000-1 million yearsoldest existing part of the big islandmahukona470000 YAseamount273000-341000 yearshaleakalabetween 1480 and 1600 shield volcano~ 2 millionoldest active volcano in the Hawaiian emperor seamountswest mauiless than 320000 years agomountain range1.32±0.04 millionmakes up the entire west quarter of mauiKaho'olawe1 MYAvolcanic island> 1.03±0.18 millionsmallest of the 8 main Hawaiian Islands. most of the volcano has long disappeared beneath the wavesLānaʻi1.2 MYAvolcanic island1.28±0.04 million yearssmallest currently accessible inhabited islandeast molokai1.3 MYAmountain range1.76±0.04 millionabout 1.5 million years ago, the northern face of the volcano suffered a huge collapse, causing a large tsunami. only the southern half remains above the sea todaypenguin bank1.76 MYAseamount2.2 million yearswas once a large part of the prehistoric island of Maui Nui. Now lies in relatively shallow waters capped with coralKo'olau range32000 YApossibly dormant mountain range2.7 million yearspartially destroyed remains of a shield volcano which suffered a large collapse before the Molokai eventWai'anae range2.5 MYAmountain range2.5-3.9 million yearsremains of an eroded shield volcano. last erupted around 2.5 million years agoKa'ena ridge3 myaseamount/ mountain range3.5-4.9 million yearssubmerged remnants of a shield volcano that has long since disappeared beneath the wavesKa'ulaover 2 MYAvolcanic island3.8-4.2 million yearstiny, crescent shaped island. uninhabitedNi'ihau2 MYAvolcanic island4.89±0.11smallest inhabited island in the Hawaiian archipelago.Kaua'i1.41 MYAvolcanic island4.9-5.3 million yearsthe oldest of the main Hawaiian islands

North-western Hawaiian  islands
+NameTypeAgeNotesNihoavolcanic island6.9-7.5 million yearssmall rocky island which once held a small population of inhabitants about 1000 years ago. youngest North-Western Hawaiian island above sea levelNecker islandvolcanic island9.9-10.7 million yearssmall island with traces of civilisationFrench Frigate shoalsAtoll12 million yearslargest and youngest atoll in the Hawaiian emperor seamount chaingardner pinnaclesRock Formations12.3±1.0 million2 small rock formations surrounded by a large reefRaita Bankguyot12.3 to 19.9 million yearsyoungest named guyot in the chainMaro reefAtoll12.3 to 19.9 millionlargest coral reef in the chainLaysan Atoll and island12.3 to 19.9 millionLisianski Islandatoll19.9 to 20.6 millionA small island surrounded by a huge coral reef nearly the size of Oahu. named after a Russian navy captain who ran aground on this islandPearl and Hermes Atollatoll and islands20.6±2.7 milliona bunch of small sandy islands with a lagoon and coral reefladd seamountGuyot20.6 to 27.7 millionMidway AtollAtoll27.7±0.6 millionthe site of a key battle in the 2nd world warNero seamountGuyot27.7 to 38.7 millionKure atollatoll27.7 to 38.7 millionoldest surviving Atoll in the chain

Emperor seamounts table
 Name Type Coordinates Age Notes Hancock Seamount    Colahan Seamount    Abbott Seamount    Daikakuji SeamountGeographic.org, "Daikakuji Seamount"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Also the name of a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Daikaku-ji Kammu GuyotGeographic.org, "Kammu Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Kammu, former ruler of Japan Yūryaku GuyotGeographic.org, "Yuryaku Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Yūryaku, former ruler of Japan Kimmei SeamountGeographic.org, "Kimmei Seamount"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Kimmei, former ruler of Japan Kōkō GuyotGeographic.org, "Kōkō Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Kōkō, former ruler of Japan Ōjin GuyotGeographic.org, "Ōjin Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Ōjin, former ruler of Japan Jingū GuyotGeographic.org, "Jingū Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Empress Jingū, former ruler of Japan Nintoku GuyotGeographic.org, "Nintoku Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Nintoku, former ruler of Japan Yōmei SeamountGeographic.org, "Yomei Seamount"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Yōmei, former ruler of Japan Suiko GuyotGeographic.org, "Suiko Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Empress Suiko, former ruler of Japan Detroit GuyotGeographic.org, "Detroit Tablemount"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Well-documented seamount, second-oldest Meiji GuyotGeographic.org,  "Meiji Guyot"; retrieved 2012-6-9.   Named after Emperor Meiji, former ruler of Japan; oldest known seamount in the chain

 Related pages 
 List of volcanos
 Active volcano
 Dormant volcano

References

Category:Seamounts
Category:Geography of Hawaii
Category:Pacific Ocean