Esmeralda Bank

Stratovolcano in United States

Key Facts

Elevation

-74 m (-243 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

14.958°, 145.249°

Region

Mariana Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Esmeralda Bank is a massive submarine volcano with three cones oriented N-S over about 15 km. The high points on the crater rim of the large middle edifice, with a collapse scarp open to the W, are about 75 m below the ocean surface. Frequent sulfur-rich surface bubbling and water discoloration have been observed, which have variously been attributed to eruptive events or fumarolic activity.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Silica Content

Low (45-52% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

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

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Unrest / Holocene

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	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

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: 284210
•Evidence: Unrest / Holocene
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

A bathymetric model with 2x vertical exaggeration shows the Esmeralda Bank submarine volcano, as seen from the NW. Depths in this image range from 54 to 2,052 m. Bathymetry data (~25 m resolution) is overlaid on SeaBat data (~50 m resolution) courtesy of Yoshihiko Tamura (JAMSTEC). The main central edifice seen here has a 3-km summit crater open to the W. Sulfur and water discoloration from eruptive or geothermal activity have frequently been observed.

Image courtesy of Susan Merle (Oregon State University/NOAA Vents Program).