Flat-topped Curtis Island, seen here from the N, is, along with nearby Cheeseman Island, the uplifted portion of a submarine volcano astride the Kermadec Ridge. The small Pleistocene island contains abundant andesitic pyroclastic flow deposits. Reports of possible historical eruptions probably represent increased thermal activity from a shallow crater near sea level. Geologic studies have documented uplift of 18 m at Curtis during the past 200 years.

Photo by Owen Calder, 2004

This image is made available under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 license terms.

Galleries: Submarine Volcanoes

Keywords: submarine volcano

Curtis Island