South Sarigan Seamount

Stratovolcano in United States

Last Eruption: 2010

Key Facts

Elevation

-184 m (-604 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

16.580°, 145.780°

Region

Mariana Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

No Data (checked)

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

South Sarigan seamount, rising to within about 184 m of the ocean surface 12 km S of Sarigan Island, was the site of a short explosive submarine eruption in May 2010 that produced a plume of ash and steam to 12 km altitude. Sidescan sonar imagery taken in 2003 shows an irregular summit with multiple peaks, including a possibly young cone at about 350 m depth, and flank morphology suggests it is a frequently active volcano.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskHigh

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

No Data (checked)

Silica Content

Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Eruption Observed

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	16 years ago	Recent	Recently active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Watch

Dormant but monitored. Capable of renewed activity.

Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 284193
•Evidence: Eruption Observed
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Sidescan sonar imagery taken in 2003 shows South Sarigan seamount rising to within about 184 m of the ocean surface 12 km S of Sarigan Island. It was the site of an explosive submarine eruption in May 2010 that sent a plume of ash and steam to 12 km altitude. The seamount has an irregular summit with multiple peaks, including a possibly young cone at about 350 m depth, and flank morphology suggests it is frequently active.

Map courtesy Bill Embley and William Chadwick (NOAA: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/logs/feb17/feb17.html)