North Gorda Ridge Segment
Fissure vent(s) in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
-3,000 m (-9,843 ft)
Type
Fissure vent(s)
Location
42.670°, -126.780°
Region
Northeast Pacific Rifts Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Tectonic Setting
Rift zone
Location
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Overview
The northernmost of five segments of the Gorda Ridge lies immediately south of the Blanco Transform Fault that offsets the Gorda and Juan de Fuca oceanic spreading ridges. The 65-km-long segment is located about 200 km W of the southern Oregon coast and has deep 5- 10-km-wide valleys at either ends with a shallower narrow axial valley at the center. This morphology, which in plan view resembles an hourglass, is typical of magmatically active spreading segments.
A submarine lava flow was erupted in late February and early March 1996, near the center of the segment. The eruption was initially detected through acoustic T-waves from a seismic swarm and the emission of large thermal plumes. In April submarine cameras revealed new lava flows about 100-200 m wide along a fissure that was at least 3.
5 km long. A seismic swarm of uncertain origin also occurred at this location in January 1998.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 30 years ago | Recent | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Eastern Pacific Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 331031
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
This lava flow was erupted in 1996 along the North Gorda Ridge, the northernmost of five segments of the Gorda Ridge located immediately south of the Blanco Transform Fault, which offsets the Gorda and Juan de Fuca spreading ridges. Submarine cameras revealed new lava flows about 100-200 m wide along a fissure that was at least 3.5 km long. The 65-km-long North Gorda Ridge segment is located about 200 km W of the southern Oregon coast and has an hourglass shape in plan view, with a shallower narrow axial valley at the center.
Image courtesy of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1996 (http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/home.html).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.