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Ahyi Seamount

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Ahyi seamount is a large conical submarine volcano that rises to within 137 m of the sea surface about 18 km SE of the island of Farallon de Pajaros (Uracas) in the northern Marianas.

Quick Facts

Location: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Latitude: 20.42° N

Longitude: 145.03° E

Elevation: -75 (m) -246 (f)

Volcano type: Submarine 

Composition: Andesite - Basalt

Most recent eruption: 2023 CE

Threat Potential: Very low*

*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System

Summary

Media
Bathymetric map of Ahyi Seamount
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Bathymetric map of Ahyi Seamount.

Ahyi seamount is a large conical submarine volcano that rises to within 75 m of the ocean surface ~18 km SE of the island of Farallon de Pajaros in the northern Marianas. Water discoloration has been observed there, and in 1979 the crew of a fishing boat felt shocks over the summit area, followed by upwelling of sulfur-bearing water. On 24-25 April 2001 an explosive eruption was detected seismically by a station on Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago. The event was well constrained (± 15 km) at a location near the southern base of Ahyi. An eruption in April-May 2014 was detected by NOAA divers, hydroacoustic sensors, and seismic stations.

Publications

Volcanic hazards in the Pacific U.S. Territories

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa lie along the western side of the famed Pacific Ring of Fire. Here, the processes of active island and submarine volcanoes produce activity both underwater and in the atmosphere that poses potential hazards to the daily lives of residents and travelers. Since 2000, CNMI volcanoes have erupted six times, and one...
Authors
Gabrielle Tepp, Brian Shiro, William W. Chadwick
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Agrigan, Ahyi Seamount, Alamagan, Anatahan, Asuncion, Daikoku Seamount , East Diamante, Esmeralda Bank, Farallon de Pajaros, Fukujin Seamount , Guguan, Kasuga 2, Maug Islands, Ofu-Olosega, Pagan, Ruby, Sarigan, South Sarigan Seamount, Supply Reef, Ta'u Island, Tutuila Island, Zealandia Bank, Subduction Zone Science

Hydroacoustic, seismic, and bathymetric observations of the 2014 submarine eruption at Ahyi Seamount, Mariana Arc

Ahyi seamount, a shallow submarine volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands, began erupting on April 23, 2014. Hydroacoustic eruption signals were observed on the regional Mariana seismic network and on distant hydrophones, and NOAA scuba divers working in the area soon after the eruption began heard and felt underwater explosion sounds. The NOAA crew observed yellow orange bubble mats...
Authors
Gabrielle Tepp, William W. Chadwick, Matthew M. Haney, John J. Lyons, Robert Dziak, Susan Merle, Dave Butterfield, Charles W. Young
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Ahyi Seamount

2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment

When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Volcano Science Center, Agrigan, Ahyi Seamount, Alamagan, Anatahan, Asuncion, Belknap, Black Butte Crater Lava Field, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Blue Lake Crater, Carrizozo Lava Flow, Cascade Range Weekly Update, Cinnamon Butte, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Coso Volcanic Field, Crater Lake, Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field, Daikoku Seamount , Davis Lake Volcanic Field, Devils Garden Lava Field, Diamond Craters Volcanic Field, Dotsero Volcanic Center, East Diamante, Esmeralda Bank, Farallon de Pajaros, Fukujin Seamount , Glacier Peak, Guguan, Haleakalā, Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, Hualālai, Indian Heaven Volcanic Field, Jordan Craters Volcanic Field, Kama‘ehuakanaloa, Kasuga 2, Kīlauea, Lassen Volcanic Center, Long Valley Caldera, Mammoth Mountain, Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field, Maug Islands, Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, Medicine Lake, Mono Lake Volcanic Field, Mono-Inyo Craters, Mount Adams, Mount Bachelor, Mount Baker, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Rainier, Mount Shasta, Mount St. Helens, Newberry, Ofu-Olosega, Pagan, Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field, Ruby, Salton Buttes, San Francisco Volcanic Field, Sand Mountain Volcanic Field, Sarigan, Soda Lakes, South Sarigan Seamount, Supply Reef, Ta'u Island, Three Sisters, Tutuila Island, Ubehebe Craters, Uinkaret Volcanic Field, Valles Caldera, Wapi Lava Field, Weekly Update, West Crater Volcanic Field, Yellowstone, Zealandia Bank, Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
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Quick Facts

Location: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

Latitude: 20.42° N

Longitude: 145.03° E

Elevation: -75 (m) -246 (f)

Volcano type: Submarine 

Composition: Andesite - Basalt

Most recent eruption: 2023 CE

Threat Potential: Very low*

*based on the National Volcano Early Warning System

Volcanoes Hazards Program Links

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