MacDonald Seamount

French polynesia


SUMMARY

Type: submarine vent
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1989
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ?
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 28.98 S
Longitude: 140.25 W


Geologic Background:

Summit of seamount is large flat area at depth of about 100 meters with pinnacles rising to within 30 meters of surface.

Historic Activity:

  • First discovered by hydrophones in May 1967.
  • Based on acoustic signals there have been more than 20 eruptive events since 1977 with 8 of them occurring from June 1987 to April 1988.

Recent Activity:

  • Eruptive event from Sept. 2 to Sept. 18, 1988 consisting of shallow submarine explosions of moderate intensity.
  • Seismicity produced by activity at Macdonald Seamount was substantially more vigorous in 1987 and 1988 than in previous years since 1977.
  • Activity was observed from Jan. 19 to Jan. 25, 1989.

Data Sources:

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 8, No. 4 to V. 14, No. 1).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Last Update: 12/15/00