Report on Esmeralda Bank (United States) — August 1987
Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 12, no. 8 (August 1987)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.
Esmeralda Bank (United States) Bubbling and discolored water
Please cite this report as:
Global Volcanism Program, 1987. Report on Esmeralda Bank (United States) (McClelland, L., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 12:8. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.SEAN198708-284210
Esmeralda Bank
United States
14.958°N, 145.249°E; summit elev. -74 m
All times are local (unless otherwise noted)
On 26 May, the pilot of a charter aircraft observed a heavy "boil" on the ocean surface over Esmeralda, feeding an elongate zone of discolored water. The pilot reported that he had not seen activity at Esmeralda in many years. On 4 June, L.G. Eldredge and the same pilot flew over Esmeralda, but saw no water movement or discoloration.
Geological Summary. 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.
Information Contacts: L. Eldredge, University of Guam.
