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.

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.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334050397

 Geology 
The 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) 
 Oliver Knoll −2,200 metres (−7,218 ft) 
 Haungaroa Seamount −660 metres (−2,165 ft) 
 Kuiwai Seamount −560 metres (−1,837 ft) 
 Ngātoroirangi Seamount −340 metres (−1,115 ft) 
 Brothers Seamount −1,350 metres (−4,429 ft) 
 Rumble III Seamount −140 metres (−459 ft) 

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 
Other significant seamounts in the area include:

 Sonne Seamount 
 Kibblewhite Seamount −990 metres (−3,248 ft) 
 Gill Seamount −1,200 metres (−3,937 ft) 
 Yokosuka Seamount −1,060 metres (−3,478 ft) 
 Rapuhia Seamount −650 metres (−2,133 ft) 
 Rumble I Seamount −1,100 metres (−3,609 ft) 

 Eruptions 
The 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 

 Other websites 

 OpenStreetMap link to the South Kermadec Ridge Seamounts

Category:Pacific Ocean