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{{#seo:
|title=Hess Rise and Northwest Pacific Oceanic Plateaus
|description=Overview of Hess Rise, Northwest Pacific seamounts, mantle plume research, seafloor mapping, ocean drilling, submarine volcanism, and deep-sea exploration.
|keywords=Hess Rise, Northwest Pacific, oceanic plateaus, seamounts, mantle plumes, large igneous provinces, submarine volcanism, seafloor mapping, ocean drilling, paleoclimate, deep-sea exploration
|image=File:Placeholder.png
|image_width=300
|image_height=200
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[[Category:Oceanography]]
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Marine Science]]
[[Category:Seafloor Exploration]]
[[Category:Volcanism]]

**NOTOC**

== Hess Rise and Northwest Pacific Oceanic Plateaus ==

=== Hess Rise and Northwest Pacific Plateaus ===

Hess Rise is a large volcanic plateau in the central North Pacific Ocean and one of the least explored major oceanic plateaus on Earth. Recent research expeditions, including the SO320/1 mission aboard the research vessel ''SONNE'', are investigating its origin, crustal structure, volcanic history, and relationship to ancient Pacific plate motion.

Scientists use seismic surveys, magnetic measurements, bathymetric mapping, rock sampling, and sediment studies to better understand how Hess Rise formed. Earlier geological studies from the Deep Sea Drilling Project and the U.S. Geological Survey interpreted Hess Rise through its morphology, igneous rocks, sediment layers, seismic stratigraphy, and paleoenvironments.

=== Mantle Plumes and Large Igneous Provinces ===

Oceanic plateaus such as Hess Rise are often studied in connection with mantle plumes, hotspots, and large igneous provinces. Comparisons with the Ontong Java Plateau, Shatsky Rise, Tamu Massif, Hikurangi Plateau, and other Pacific volcanic features help researchers evaluate whether massive underwater plateaus formed from deep mantle upwellings, long-lived volcanic events, or more complex interactions between mantle chemistry and moving oceanic plates.

Newer studies suggest that some of Earth’s largest volcanic events reshaped oceanic plates and may have involved thermochemical mantle plumes. These findings provide useful context for understanding Hess Rise and other Northwest Pacific volcanic plateaus.

=== Seamount Exploration and Deep-Sea Habitats ===

Seamounts are underwater mountains, usually volcanic in origin, that record plate motion, hotspot activity, and tectonic change. Studies of Pacific seamount chains, including the Emperor Seamounts, Salas y Gómez Ridge, Phoenix Islands seamounts, and Galapagos seamounts, show that these features are also important deep-sea habitats.

Seamounts can support coral gardens, sponge communities, octopus nurseries, and other specialized ecosystems. Because many seamounts remain poorly mapped or unexplored, modern expeditions continue to discover new geological structures and biological communities.

=== Seafloor Mapping and Ocean Technology ===

Modern ocean exploration relies on ship-based sonar, autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, satellite altimetry, ocean-bottom seismometers, and robotic mapping systems. These tools reveal seamounts, ridges, plateaus, lava flows, hydrothermal vents, and other seafloor features that are difficult to detect from the surface.

Recent improvements in satellite and ship-based mapping have shown that large areas of the ocean floor remain incompletely surveyed. Discoveries of new seamounts in the Pacific and elsewhere demonstrate the continued importance of direct mapping missions.

=== Submarine Volcanism and Hydrothermal Systems ===

Submarine volcanoes, seamounts, lava fields, and hydrothermal vents are major forces shaping the ocean floor. Research at Axial Seamount, Davidson Seamount, Alarcón Rise, the Galapagos region, and other volcanic systems shows how underwater eruptions, magma chambers, and hydrothermal circulation create both geological change and unusual biological habitats.

Hydrothermal systems can support unique ecosystems by providing heat and chemical energy in the deep sea. Studies of volcanic seafloor environments help scientists understand how ocean crust forms, how lava flows spread underwater, and how life adapts to extreme conditions.

=== Ocean Drilling, Sediment Cores, and Paleoclimate ===

Ocean drilling and sediment coring are essential for reconstructing Earth’s geologic and climate history. Sediment cores from elevated Pacific seafloor regions, sometimes called Pacific highs, can preserve long records of warm climates, ocean circulation, oxygen levels, ecosystem shifts, and volcanic activity.

Research from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program and related expeditions has helped scientists understand plate tectonics, ancient greenhouse climates, ocean acidification, ice-sheet retreat, methane hydrates, and sub-seafloor life. These records are especially valuable because many deep-ocean sediments contain archives extending back millions of years.

=== Earthquakes, Subduction, and Ocean-Bottom Seismology ===

Ocean-bottom seismometers and scientific drilling are also used to study earthquakes, subduction zones, and offshore tectonic hazards. Studies in the Japan Trench, Cascadia, New Zealand, Chile, and other Pacific margins show how underwater instruments can reveal hidden fault structures, slow-slip events, water release in subducting plates, and earthquake-triggering processes.

Although Hess Rise itself is not primarily a subduction-zone feature, the same marine geophysical tools used in earthquake studies are important for investigating the structure and history of large underwater plateaus.

=== Deep-Ocean Exploration and Scientific Importance ===

The study of Hess Rise fits into a broader effort to understand the deep ocean, one of the least directly observed environments on Earth. Deep-sea exploration improves knowledge of Earth’s volcanic history, mantle dynamics, climate archives, mineral systems, plate motion, and biological diversity.

Because oceanic plateaus and seamounts preserve evidence of ancient volcanism and environmental change, they are key targets for future mapping, sampling, drilling, and long-term observation.

=== Conclusion ===

Hess Rise is an important but still poorly understood volcanic plateau in the Northwest Pacific. Research on Hess Rise connects several major scientific themes: mantle plume theory, large igneous provinces, seamount formation, submarine volcanism, seafloor mapping, ocean drilling, paleoclimate archives, and deep-sea ecosystems. As new expeditions apply modern geophysical, geological, and robotic tools, Hess Rise may help explain how Earth’s largest underwater volcanic features formed and how they continue to shape ocean history.

**TOC**






===Hess Rise and Northwest Pacific Plateaus===

=====Thermochemical Mantle Plume Identified as the Likely Origin of Earth's Largest Oceanic Plateau=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-06-thermochemical-mantle-plume-earth-largest.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 15, 2026
 Researchers propose that the Ontong Java Plateau formed from a thermochemical mantle plume, offering a useful comparison for scientists studying how giant underwater plateaus such as Hess Rise may originate.

=====Expedition to Hess Rise in the Northwest Pacific Begins=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-05-hess-northwest-pacific.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | May 25, 2026
 Research vessel SONNE begins an expedition to Hess Rise, a remote volcanic plateau in the Northwest Pacific, to study its origin, crustal structure, and relationship to ancient Pacific volcanism.

=====Expedition to Hess Rise in the Northwest Pacific Begins=====
[https://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/expedition-to-hess-rise-in-the-northwest-pacific-begins Article link] | GEOMAR | GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel | May 18, 2026
 GEOMAR announces Expedition SO320/1 to Hess Rise, where scientists will use seismic, magnetic, bathymetric, and sampling methods to investigate one of the least explored large oceanic plateaus on Earth.

=====Expeditionsheft SO320: Hess Rise=====
[https://www.ldf.uni-hamburg.de/sonne/wochenberichte/wochenberichte-sonne/so316-so320/expeditionsheft-so320.pdf Article link] | Leitstelle Deutsche Forschungsschiffe | University of Hamburg | May 15, 2026
 The expedition booklet explains the goals, background, and planned methods for SO320, including seismic work, magnetic measurements, and geological sampling at Hess Rise.

=====Pacific Highs: A Treasure Trove of Past Warm Climate Archives=====
[https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2025PA005133 Article link] | Pacific Highs Working Group | Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology | 2025
 Researchers describe how elevated Pacific seafloor regions preserve rare sediment records that can help reconstruct ancient warm climates and ocean change.

=====Study Reveals Petrogenesis and Geodynamic Processes of NW Pacific Seamount Lavas=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-petrogenesis-geodynamic-nw-pacific.html Article link] | Science China Press | Phys.org | August 27, 2024
 Geochemical dating of West Pacific seamount lavas helps explain how mantle sources, hotspots, and lithospheric structures shape seamount formation in the Northwest Pacific.

=====Papanin Ridge and Ojin Rise Seamounts, Northwest Pacific=====
[https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021GC009847 Article link] | A. Dürkefälden et al. | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems | 2021
 Geochemical research on Northwest Pacific seamounts examines possible links between hotspot volcanism, Shatsky Rise, and Hess Rise.

=====Papanin Ridge and Ojin Rise Seamounts, Northwest Pacific=====
[https://e-docs.geo-leo.de/bitstream/11858/9825/1/GGGE_GGGE22628.pdf Article link] | A. Dürkefälden et al. | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems | 2021
 This paper analyzes the age and chemistry of Papanin Ridge and Ojin Rise seamounts, adding context to the volcanic history of the Northwest Pacific.

=====Shatsky and Hess Rise in the Northwest Pacific=====
[https://oceanrep.geomar.de/29508/1/1018.pdf Article link] | Jörg Geldmacher et al. | OceanRep / GEOMAR | 2015
 Researchers compare Shatsky Rise and Hess Rise as large volcanic plateaus in the Northwest Pacific, examining age, origin, and mantle plume hypotheses.

=====Scientists Confirm Existence of Largest Single Volcano on Earth=====
[https://phys.org/news/2013-09-monster-volcano-biggest-solar.pdf Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | September 5, 2013
 Research on Tamu Massif in Shatsky Rise identifies one of Earth’s largest volcanoes, providing a major comparison point for Hess Rise and other Pacific plateaus.

=====IODP Expedition 345 Preliminary Report: Hess Deep Plutonic Crust=====
[https://publications.iodp.org/preliminary_report/345/345pr_5.htm Article link] | IODP Expedition 345 Scientists | Integrated Ocean Drilling Program | 2013
 Although focused on Hess Deep rather than Hess Rise, this report shows how ocean drilling studies exposed lower oceanic crust and mantle rocks in the Pacific.

=====The Geology of Hess Rise, Central North Pacific Ocean=====
[https://www.usgs.gov/publications/geology-hess-rise-central-north-pacific-ocean Article link] | USGS | U.S. Geological Survey | January 9, 1981
 A foundational study interprets Hess Rise geology using morphology, igneous petrology, sediment lithofacies, seismic stratigraphy, and paleoenvironments.

=====The Geology of Hess Rise, Central North Pacific Ocean=====
[https://deepseadrilling.org/62/volume/dsdp62_61.pdf Article link] | Roger L. Larson et al. | Deep Sea Drilling Project | 1981
 This DSDP paper describes the geology and evolution of Hess Rise using drilling results, seismic data, and sediment records from the central North Pacific.

===Oceanic Plateaus, Mantle Plumes, and Large Igneous Provinces===

=====Earth's Largest Volcanic Event Reshaped an Oceanic Plate, Study Finds=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-02-earth-largest-volcanic-event-reshaped.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | February 2, 2026
 Seismic research on the Ontong Java Plateau shows how massive submarine volcanism can alter oceanic plates, providing context for studies of large igneous provinces in the Pacific.

=====Seismic Anisotropy Offers Insight Into Viscous Blobs at Base of Earth's Mantle=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-10-seismic-anisotropy-insight-viscous-blobs.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | October 21, 2025
 Seismic research into deep mantle structures helps explain plume behavior that may generate oceanic plateaus and seamount chains.

=====Easter Island's Volcanic History Suggests Earth's Mantle Behaves Differently Than Previously Assumed=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-10-easter-island-volcanic-history-earth.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | October 2024
 Research on Easter Island volcanism adds evidence that mantle plumes and Pacific plate motion can behave in complex ways over geologic time.

=====Tracking a Disappearing Mantle Plume in Ancient Samoa=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-10-tracking-mantle-plume-ancient-samoa.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | October 28, 2024
 Geologists investigate the history of a Pacific mantle plume, offering context for hotspot models used to explain oceanic plateaus such as Hess Rise.

=====New Research Re-Envisions Earth's Mantle as a Relatively Uniform Reservoir=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-09-envisions-earth-mantle-uniform-reservoir.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | September 2024
 Mantle research explores how deep Earth chemistry may be more connected than previously thought, with implications for interpreting volcanic plateaus and seamount chains.

=====Seismological Study Shows Ancient Lower Mantle Flow Field Under Philippine Sea Plate=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-03-seismological-ancient-mantle-field-philippine.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | March 12, 2024
 Seismic imaging of mantle flow beneath the Philippine Sea Plate helps interpret deep-Earth processes in the western Pacific.

=====Study Shows That Rio Grande Rise Was Once a Giant Mineral-Rich Tropical Island=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-02-rio-grande-giant-mineral-rich.html Article link] | Universidade de São Paulo | Phys.org | February 1, 2024
 Researchers find that the Rio Grande Rise was once above sea level, showing how underwater plateaus can preserve evidence of major environmental and geologic change.

=====Massive Underwater Plateau Near Solomon Islands Is Younger and Its Eruption Was More Protracted Than Previously Thought=====
[https://phys.org/news/2023-06-massive-underwater-plateau-solomon-islands.html Article link] | Oregon State University | Phys.org | June 15, 2023
 New research revises the history of the Ontong Java Plateau, showing that major oceanic plateaus can form through longer and more complex volcanic events than once believed.

=====World's Largest Lava Lamp Bubble Under New Zealand=====
[https://phys.org/news/2020-05-world-largest-lava-lamp-nz.html Article link] | Victoria University of Wellington | Phys.org | May 29, 2020
 Researchers compare the Hikurangi Plateau with other Pacific plateaus, adding context to the breakup and movement of ancient volcanic provinces.

=====URI Oceanography Student Uses Crashing Waves on Shorelines to Study Earth's Interior=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-12-uri-oceanography-student-shorelines-earth.html Article link] | University of Rhode Island | Phys.org | December 5, 2012
 Researchers use seismic waves generated by ocean activity to investigate the structure and origin of the Ontong Java Plateau.

===Seamount Exploration and Deep-Sea Habitats===

=====Deep Earth Model Traces 270 Million Years of Seamount Formation=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-06-deep-earth-million-years-seamount.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 15, 2026
 A deep-Earth modeling study examines how thousands of seamounts may form across ocean basins, helping explain the volcanic processes behind underwater mountains and plateaus.

=====Seamounts Promote Expansion of Oxygen Minimum Zone in Western Pacific=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-02-seamounts-expansion-oxygen-minimum-zone.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | February 2026
 Research links seamount topography to oxygen minimum zone expansion, showing how underwater mountains influence ocean chemistry and habitats.

=====Ancient Volcanic Mystery: 120-Million-Year-Old Supereruption Linked to Deep Pacific Hotspot=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-04-ancient-volcanic-mystery-million-year.html Article link] | University of Maryland / University of Hawaiʻi | Phys.org | April 30, 2025
 Geologists connect a huge ancient Pacific volcanic event to a deep hotspot, offering clues about how massive underwater plateaus and seamount chains are created.

=====Unexplored Seamounts of the Salas y Gómez Ridge=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/unexplored-seamounts-of-the-salas-y-gomez-ridge/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | February 24, 2024
 Scientists explore the Salas y Gómez Ridge, a chain of poorly known Pacific seamounts, to document its geology, biodiversity, and conservation value.

=====Seamounts of the Southeast Pacific=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/seamounts-of-the-southeast-pacific/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | January 20, 2024
 This expedition investigates understudied Southeast Pacific seamounts using mapping, sensors, landers, and ROV observations to study geology and deep-sea ecosystems.

=====Scientists Explore Seamounts in Phoenix Islands Archipelago=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/scientists-explore-seamounts-in-phoenix-islands-archipelago-gaining-new-insights-into-deep-water-diversity-and-ecology/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | July 8, 2021
 A 34-day expedition maps and samples seamounts in the Phoenix Islands region, improving understanding of deep-water diversity and seafloor habitats.

=====Dive 02: Congress Seamount South=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ex2104-dive02/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | July 5, 2021
 NOAA documents ROV observations of volcanic seafloor textures and rugged summit terrain during a seamount dive.

=====New England and Corner Rise Seamounts=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/okeanos-ex2104-features-geology/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | June 23, 2021
 NOAA explains how seamount chains record hotspot volcanism and plate motion, principles also used to interpret Pacific seamounts and plateaus.

=====Canyons and Seamounts: Deep, Steep, and Worth Exploring=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/okeanos-ex1905-background-canyons-seamounts/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | August 5, 2019
 NOAA explains why seamounts are important for reconstructing plate motion, studying hotspots, and protecting deep-sea ecosystems.

=====Deep Coral Diversity at Emperor Seamount Chain 2019=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/cruise/deep-coral-diversity-emperor-seamounts2019/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | 2019
 Researchers explore the Emperor Seamount Chain to study deep corals, collect rock samples, and connect biology with seamount geology.

=====Five Things to Know About This Expedition=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/cruise-log-post/five-things-to-know-about-this-expedition-2/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | August 3, 2019
 A field update explains the importance of the Emperor Seamounts, which connect the Hawaiian and Aleutian volcanic systems in the North Pacific.

=====The Seamount Gardens of the Deep Sea=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/19gulfofalaska-background-benthos/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | July 19, 2019
 NOAA describes deep-sea coral and sponge habitats on Gulf of Alaska seamounts, emphasizing why underwater mountains are ecological hotspots.

=====Galapagos Expedition Reveals Unknown Seamounts and New Species=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-12-galapagos-reveals-unknown-seamounts-species.html Article link] | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | Phys.org | December 10, 2015
 High-resolution mapping in the Galapagos reveals more than 70 seamounts and new species, showing the discovery potential of unexplored volcanic terrain.

===Seafloor Mapping and Ocean Technology===

=====NOAA Ocean Exploration in the Field: 2026=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-2026-expeditions/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | 2026
 NOAA outlines upcoming ocean exploration missions using ROV dives, mapping, and telepresence to investigate poorly known deep-sea regions.

=====Autonomous Vehicle Search in Mariana Trench Helps Advance Ultra-Deep Exploration=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-07-autonomous-vehicle-mariana-trench-advance.html Article link] | University of Rhode Island | Phys.org | July 7, 2025
 A new autonomous underwater vehicle images unexplored ultra-deep seafloor near the Mariana Trench, advancing tools for remote ocean exploration.

=====Next-Generation Water Satellite Maps Seafloor From Space=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-03-generation-satellite-seafloor-space.html Article link] | NASA | Phys.org | March 20, 2025
 NASA’s SWOT satellite improves seafloor mapping from space, helping scientists identify features such as seamounts and underwater plateaus that remain poorly surveyed by ships.

=====Beyond the Blue: Papahānaumokuākea ROV and Mapping=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition/ex2503/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | March 20, 2025
 NOAA describes a 2025 ROV and mapping expedition to deep waters around Papahānaumokuākea, a region shaped by the same Pacific volcanic and seamount processes relevant to Hess Rise.

=====Satellite Measurements Make Major Seafloor Map Improvement=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-12-satellite-major-seafloor.pdf Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | December 13, 2024
 Satellite altimetry research improves global seafloor maps, helping identify seamounts, ridges, and plateaus that remain difficult to survey directly.

=====Schmidt Ocean Institute 2024 Expeditions=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/cruises/schmidt-ocean-institute-2024-expeditions/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | 2024
 Schmidt Ocean Institute outlines Pacific expeditions focused on seamounts, seeps, vents, seafloor mapping, and deep-sea biodiversity.

=====Expedition Summary: Seascape Alaska=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition-feature/okeanos-seascape-alaska-ex2306-features-summary/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | January 22, 2024
 NOAA summarizes exploration of Alaska seamount chains, including mapping and geological sampling to understand hotspot volcano origins.

=====Massive New Seamount Discovered in International Waters Off Guatemala=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/massive-new-seamount-off-guatemala/ Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | November 22, 2023
 Seafloor mapping reveals a previously unknown 1,600-meter seamount in the Pacific, showing how much of the ocean floor remains unexplored.

=====Australian Icebreaker Maps Deep-Sea Mountain=====
[https://phys.org/news/2021-12-australian-icebreaker-deepsea-mountain.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | December 2021
 Ship-based mapping reveals a deep-sea mountain, demonstrating how modern research vessels continue to improve knowledge of global seafloor topography.

=====A Monumental Mapping Mission=====
[https://schmidtocean.org/wp-content/uploads/FK161229_FinalProjectReport_compressed.pdf Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Schmidt Ocean Institute | 2017
 A seafloor mapping project documents complex volcanic history among Pacific seamounts, showing how detailed bathymetry reveals eruptive patterns.

=====Scientists Discover Seamount in Pacific Ocean=====
[https://phys.org/news/2014-09-scientists-seamount-pacific-ocean.html Article link] | University of New Hampshire | Phys.org | September 4, 2014
 A seafloor mapping mission discovers a new seamount near Johnston Atoll, demonstrating the continued incompleteness of Pacific bathymetric maps.

=====Seafloor-Mapping Robot Yields a Host of New Geologic Discoveries=====
[https://phys.org/news/2011-12-seafloor-mapping-robot-yields-host-geologic.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | December 6, 2011
 MBARI’s mapping AUV documents volcanic, erosional, and fault-related features on the seafloor, demonstrating the power of robotic bathymetry.

=====Discovering Mammoth Undersea Mountains=====
[https://phys.org/news/2011-03-mammoth-undersea-mountains.html Article link] | Scripps Institution of Oceanography | Phys.org | March 9, 2011
 Scientists map large undersea mountains in detail for the first time, showing how ship-based mapping can reveal seafloor structures hidden in satellite data.

===Submarine Volcanism and Hydrothermal Systems===

=====How Massive Lava Fields Formed in the Pacific Northwest=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-02-massive-lava-fields-pacific-northwest.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | February 20, 2026
 MBARI research explains unusually large lava fields at Axial Seamount, a volcanic system on the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeast Pacific.

=====Acoustic Mapping and Characterization of Seafloor Hydrothermal Vents=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/expedition/25hydrothermal-auv/ Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | December 8, 2025
 Researchers use uncrewed underwater vehicles and sonar to locate and characterize hydrothermal vent sites, demonstrating tools important for modern seafloor exploration.

=====Discovery in the Deep Sea: Unique Habitat at Hot Springs=====
[https://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/entdeckung-in-der-tiefsee-einzigartiger-lebensraum-an-heissen-quellen Article link] | GEOMAR | GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel | September 19, 2025
 Researchers report a deep-sea hydrothermal habitat linked to volcanic seafloor geology, illustrating how underwater volcanic systems can support unusual ecosystems.

=====A Mysterious, Highly Active Undersea Volcano Near California Could Erupt Soon=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-05-mysterious-highly-undersea-volcano-california.html Article link] | The Conversation | Phys.org | May 21, 2025
 Scientists discuss Axial Seamount’s activity and monitoring, showing how underwater volcanoes are tracked using instruments and seafloor surveys.

=====Factsheet: How Do Seamounts Form?=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/how-seamounts-form-fact-sheet.pdf Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | 2025
 NOAA explains how hotspots, spreading centers, and tectonic activity create seamounts and island chains across the Pacific and other oceans.

=====Investigation: Formation of Seamounts and Island Chains=====
[https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/seamounts-island-chains-investigation.pdf Article link] | NOAA Ocean Exploration | NOAA | 2025
 This educational investigation explains how seamount chains form through volcanic and tectonic processes, helping readers understand the geologic background of Hess Rise.

=====Arctic Ocean Reveals Unexpected Variety in Hydrothermal Venting=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-12-arctic-ocean-reveals-unexpected-variety.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | December 19, 2024
 A study of hydrothermal systems shows that volcanic seafloor environments can vary widely, expanding scientific understanding of deep-ocean geology.

=====Davidson Seamount and the Octopus Garden=====
[https://www.mbari.org/news/scientists-solve-mystery-of-why-thousands-of-octopus-migrate-to-deep-sea-thermal-springs/ Article link] | MBARI | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | August 23, 2023
 MBARI shows how volcanic seamount geology creates warm-water habitats that support extraordinary deep-sea life.

=====Scientists Solve Mystery of Why Thousands of Octopus Migrate to Deep-Sea Thermal Springs=====
[https://phys.org/news/2023-08-scientists-mystery-thousands-octopus-migrate.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | August 23, 2023
 Researchers explain how deep-sea thermal springs near seamounts support octopus nurseries, connecting volcanic geology to biological hotspots.

=====Scientists Unearth 20 Million Years of Hotspot Magmatism Under the Cocos Plate=====
[https://phys.org/news/2023-06-scientists-unearth-million-years-hot.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 20, 2023
 Ocean drilling and geochemical evidence reveal long-lived hotspot magmatism beneath the Cocos Plate.

=====Scientists Discover Three New Hydrothermal Vent Fields on Mid-Atlantic Ridge=====
[https://phys.org/news/2023-04-scientists-hydrothermal-vent-fields-mid-atlantic.html Article link] | Schmidt Ocean Institute | Phys.org | April 24, 2023
 The discovery of hydrothermal vent fields demonstrates how modern seafloor mapping and ROV work reveal hidden volcanic systems on the ocean floor.

=====Submarine Volcanism=====
[https://www.mbari.org/project/submarine-volcanism/ Article link] | MBARI | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | 2022
 MBARI summarizes research on submarine volcanoes, seamounts, hydrothermal systems, and lava flows, explaining processes that shape the ocean floor.

=====Gulf of California 2015, Leg 5: Volcanoes and Seamounts=====
[https://www.mbari.org/expedition/gulf-of-california-2015-leg-5-volcanoes-and-seamounts/ Article link] | MBARI | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | August 21, 2022
 MBARI describes exploration of volcanic ridges, hydrothermal vents, lava flows, and seamounts in the Gulf of California.

=====Crack in Pacific Seafloor Caused Volcanic Chain to Go Dormant=====
[https://phys.org/news/2019-08-pacific-seafloor-volcanic-chain-dormant.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | August 26, 2019
 Researchers show how lithospheric cracks can affect volcanic chains, offering a mechanism relevant to interpreting irregular seamount and plateau volcanism.

=====Volcanic Puzzle in the South Atlantic=====
[https://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/volcanic-puzzle-in-the-south-atlantic Article link] | GEOMAR | GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel | 2016
 Scientists reconstruct how plate tectonics split and displaced an ancient volcanic island, illustrating methods used to interpret seamount and plateau histories.

=====Cruise Summary of the Northern 2016 Expedition=====
[https://www.mbari.org/news/cruise-summary-of-the-northern-2016-expedition/ Article link] | MBARI | Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | August 16, 2016
 MBARI summarizes dives at Axial Seamount and Guide Seamount, including lava samples, hydrothermal chimneys, and deep-sea biological collections.

=====MBARI's Seafloor Maps Provide New Information About 2015 Eruption at Axial Seamount=====
[https://phys.org/news/2016-12-mbari-seafloor-eruption-axial-seamount.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | December 15, 2016
 High-resolution AUV maps show lava flows from Axial Seamount’s 2015 eruption, demonstrating how robotic mapping reveals submarine volcanic change.

=====Highly Explosive Volcanism at Galapagos=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-06-highly-explosive-volcanism-galapagos.html Article link] | GEOMAR | Phys.org | June 1, 2015
 Ocean drilling cores from the Cocos Ridge reveal explosive volcanic activity tied to Galapagos hotspot processes.

=====Geologic History of the Summit of Axial Seamount=====
[https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ggge.20240 Article link] | D. Clague et al. | Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems | 2013
 Researchers reconstruct Axial Seamount’s summit history using mapping, samples, and geologic observations from one of the best-studied submarine volcanoes.

=====Researchers Create the Most Detailed Map Ever of an Underwater Lava Flow=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-06-underwater-lava.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | June 26, 2012
 MBARI scientists use an AUV to create high-resolution maps of a new lava flow at Axial Seamount after an underwater eruption.

=====MBARI Discovers New Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents Using Sonar-Mapping Robot=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-05-mbari-deep-sea-hydrothermal-vents-sonar-mapping.html Article link] | MBARI | Phys.org | May 14, 2012
 A sonar-mapping robot helps locate hydrothermal vents on Alarcón Rise, showing how detailed seafloor maps guide deep-ocean discoveries.

=====Scientists Penetrate Fossil Magma Chamber Beneath Intact Ocean Crust=====
[https://phys.org/news/2006-04-scientists-penetrate-fossil-magma-chamber.html Article link] | Integrated Ocean Drilling Program | Phys.org | April 20, 2006
 Ocean drilling in the Pacific recovers gabbro from intact ocean crust, giving scientists a rare direct view of rocks formed in ancient magma chambers.

===Ocean Drilling, Sediment Cores, and Paleoclimate===

=====Great Barrier Reef Drilling Reveals Repeated Collapse and Recovery=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-06-great-barrier-reef-drilling-reveals.html Article link] | University of Sydney | Phys.org | June 2026
 A synthesis of IODP reef drilling shows how cores reveal long histories of environmental change, sea level, and ecosystem response.

=====Fossil Fish Tooth Chemistry Uncovers Southern Hemisphere Climate Shift=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-06-fossil-fish-tooth-chemistry-uncovers.html Article link] | University of Delaware | Phys.org | June 2026
 Data from IODP Expedition 383 help reconstruct a major shift in glacial cycles, showing how marine cores preserve global climate signals.

=====Lost Millennium of Galapagos Deep-Sea Corals Linked to Major Pacific Climate Shift=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-04-lost-millennium-galapagos-deep-sea.html Article link] | University of Bristol | Phys.org | April 20, 2026
 Fossil deep-sea corals from Galapagos seamounts reveal how Pacific climate shifts affected deep-water ecosystems over thousands of years.

=====West Antarctica's History of Rapid Melting Foretells Sudden Future Change=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-12-west-antarctica-history-rapid-sudden.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | December 23, 2025
 Deep ocean drilling offshore Antarctica reveals past ice-sheet retreat, demonstrating the value of seafloor cores for understanding climate risk.

=====Sediment Cores From Pacific Highs Reveal 100 Million Years of Earth's History=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-06-sediment-cores-pacific-highs-reveal.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 6, 2025
 Scientists highlight how sediment cores from high areas of the Pacific seafloor preserve climate and ecosystem records stretching back tens of millions of years.

=====Machine Learning Approach Simulates Geochemical Element Behavior=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-02-machine-approach-simulates-geochemical-element.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | February 27, 2025
 Geochemical modeling methods help scientists interpret volcanic rocks and mantle sources, useful for studying seamount and plateau lava samples.

=====Last Voyage of an Ocean Drilling Ship? Here's Why Scientists Are Worried=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-09-voyage-ocean-drilling-ship-scientists.html Article link] | The Conversation | Phys.org | September 4, 2024
 Scientists explain why the retirement of the JOIDES Resolution threatens future ocean drilling, a key method for studying seafloor history and deep-ocean climate archives.

=====Newly Uncovered History of a Key Ocean Current Carries a Warning on Climate=====
[https://phys.org/news/2024-03-newly-uncovered-history-key-ocean.html Article link] | Columbia Climate School | Phys.org | March 27, 2024
 Sediment cores reveal millions of years of Antarctic Circumpolar Current history, demonstrating how ocean drilling reconstructs past climate and ocean circulation.

=====Deepest Scientific Ocean Drilling Sheds Light on Japan's Next Great Earthquake=====
[https://phys.org/news/2022-09-deepest-scientific-ocean-drilling-japan.html Article link] | University of Texas at Austin | Phys.org | September 22, 2022
 Deep drilling into a subduction-zone earthquake fault off Japan reveals conditions that control major offshore earthquakes.

=====New 3D Model Will Help Guide Exploration for Rare Earth Element Deposits=====
[https://phys.org/news/2022-06-3d-exploration-rare-earth-element.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | June 2022
 3D modeling of igneous systems shows how geophysical tools can guide exploration of mineral-rich volcanic structures, including some seafloor settings.

=====Dead Zones Formed Repeatedly in North Pacific During Warm Climates=====
[https://phys.org/news/2021-06-dead-zones-repeatedly-north-pacific.html Article link] | UC Santa Cruz | Phys.org | June 2, 2021
 Sediment cores from the Bering Sea reveal repeated low-oxygen events in the North Pacific during warm climate periods.

=====Ice Discharge in the North Pacific Set Off Series of Climate Events During Last Ice Age=====
[https://phys.org/news/2020-10-ice-discharge-north-pacific-series.html Article link] | Oregon State University | Phys.org | October 1, 2020
 North Pacific sediment cores reveal that Pacific ice discharge helped trigger major climate events during the last ice age.

=====How the Seafloor of the Antarctic Ocean Is Changing and the Climate Consequences=====
[https://phys.org/news/2020-08-seafloor-antarctic-ocean-changingand-climate.html Article link] | Alfred Wegener Institute | Phys.org | August 2020
 Scientists combine decades of seismic profiles to reconstruct seafloor changes and past ocean circulation around Antarctica.

=====International Team Starts on Drilling Expedition=====
[https://phys.org/news/2020-01-international-team-drilling.html Article link] | MARUM / University of Bremen | Phys.org | January 7, 2020
 IODP Expedition 378 targets deep-sea sediments to reconstruct Cenozoic climate history, showing the value of returning to older drilling sites with better tools.

=====Drilling the Seabed Below Earth's Most Powerful Ocean Current=====
[https://phys.org/news/2019-05-drilling-seabed-earth-powerful-ocean.html Article link] | Columbia University | Phys.org | May 16, 2019
 Scientists drill deep-sea sediments beneath the Antarctic Circumpolar Current to reconstruct past ocean conditions and climate change.

=====Deep-Sea Drillers Investigate Shedding of Antarctic Icebergs=====
[https://phys.org/news/2019-03-deep-sea-drillers-antarctic-icebergs.html Article link] | Columbia University | Phys.org | March 26, 2019
 IODP Expedition 382 drills Scotia Sea sediments to study iceberg discharge and climate history around Antarctica.

=====Scientists Have Been Drilling Into the Ocean Floor for 50 Years=====
[https://phys.org/news/2018-09-scientists-drilling-ocean-floor-years.html Article link] | The Conversation | Phys.org | September 26, 2018
 A review of scientific ocean drilling explains how cores from the seafloor transformed understanding of plate tectonics, climate history, and deep life.

=====Lost Continent of Zealandia: Scientists Return From Expedition to Sunken Land=====
[https://phys.org/news/2017-09-lost-continent-zealandia-scientists-sunken.html Article link] | Rice University | Phys.org | September 27, 2017
 Scientists recover thousands of meters of sediment cores from Zealandia, revealing changes in geography, volcanism, and climate.

=====Explorers Probe Submerged Continent of Zealandia=====
[https://phys.org/news/2017-09-explorers-probe-submerged-continent-zealandia.html Article link] | The Conversation | Phys.org | September 11, 2017
 JOIDES Resolution drilling in Zealandia reveals fossil, volcanic, and climate records tied to Pacific tectonic history.

=====Galapagos Expedition Reveals Unknown Seamounts and New Species=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-12-galapagos-reveals-unknown-seamounts-species.html Article link] | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | Phys.org | December 10, 2015
 High-resolution mapping in the Galapagos reveals more than 70 seamounts and new species, showing the discovery potential of unexplored volcanic terrain.

=====How the Earth's Pacific Plates Collapsed=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-11-earth-pacific-plates-collapsed.html Article link] | Australian National University | Phys.org | November 24, 2015
 IODP drilling in the Northwest Pacific reveals rock records from major tectonic change near the Izu-Bonin-Mariana system.

=====Formation of Coastal Sea Ice in North Pacific Drives Ocean Circulation and Climate=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-10-formation-coastal-sea-ice-north.html Article link] | UC Santa Cruz | Phys.org | October 20, 2015
 North Pacific sediment cores show how sea ice formation affects deep ocean circulation and climate over long timescales.

=====Climate Change Stories From the Abyss=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-08-climate-stories-abyss.html Article link] | University of Southampton | Phys.org | August 29, 2012
 Deep-sea drilling recovers sediment archives that record 55 million years of climate history and ocean chemistry.

=====Expedition to Undersea Mountain Yields New Information About Sub-Seafloor Life=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-03-undersea-mountain-yields-sub-seafloor.html Article link] | National Science Foundation | Phys.org | March 22, 2012
 JOIDES Resolution studies Atlantis Massif, an undersea mountain exposing deep crustal rocks and microbial habitats below the seafloor.

=====URI Oceanographer to Lead Return Visit to Least-Inhabited Place on Earth=====
[https://phys.org/news/2010-10-uri-oceanographer-inhabited-earth.html Article link] | University of Rhode Island | Phys.org | October 1, 2010
 A JOIDES Resolution expedition to the South Pacific Gyre investigates microbial life in extremely low-energy deep-sea sediments.

=====Sea-Floor Sediments Illuminate 53 Million Years of Climate Change=====
[https://phys.org/news/2009-05-sea-floor-sediments-illuminate-million-years.html Article link] | Integrated Ocean Drilling Program | Phys.org | May 1, 2009
 Pacific seafloor cores reveal long records of greenhouse climates, ocean acidification, and abrupt environmental change.

=====Scientists Gain New Insights Into Frozen Methane Beneath Seafloor=====
[https://phys.org/news/2005-11-scientists-gain-insights-frozen-methane.html Article link] | Integrated Ocean Drilling Program | Phys.org | November 2005
 Sediment cores from beneath the seafloor improve understanding of methane hydrates and deep marine geologic processes.

===Earthquakes, Subduction, and Ocean Bottom Seismology===

=====We Drilled Deep Under the Sea to Learn More About Mega-Earthquakes=====
[https://phys.org/news/2025-08-drilled-deep-sea-mega-earthquakes.html Article link] | The Conversation | Phys.org | August 27, 2025
 Scientists describe IODP Expedition 405 off Japan, showing how ocean drilling reveals hidden structures beneath the seafloor and improves understanding of tectonic hazards.

=====Ocean Bottom Seismometers Could Improve Earthquake Warning Times in Pacific Northwest=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ocean-bottom-seismometers-earthquake-pacific.html Article link] | Seismological Society of America | Phys.org | April 17, 2026
 The article explains how ocean bottom seismometers improve detection of offshore seismic activity, the same class of instrument used in marine geophysical expeditions such as the Hess Rise mission.

=====Scientists Publish Unique Data Set on the Northern Chilean Subduction Zone=====
[https://phys.org/news/2021-05-scientists-publish-unique-northern-chilean.html Article link] | Helmholtz Association / GEOMAR | Phys.org | May 11, 2021
 Ocean bottom seismometers record offshore seismic activity, showing how seafloor instruments reveal hidden structures beneath the ocean.

=====Sinking Sea Mountains Make and Muffle Earthquakes=====
[https://phys.org/news/2020-03-sea-mountains-muffle-earthquakes.html Article link] | University of Texas at Austin | Phys.org | March 2, 2020
 A model shows how seamounts entering subduction zones can influence earthquake behavior, linking seafloor topography to tectonic hazards.

=====Release of Water Shakes Pacific Plate at Depth=====
[https://phys.org/news/2017-01-pacific-plate-depth.html Article link] | Washington University in St. Louis | Phys.org | January 11, 2017
 Ocean bottom seismometers and seismic surveys show how water release inside a subducting Pacific plate can trigger deep earthquakes.

=====World's Shallowest Slow-Motion Earthquakes Detected Offshore New Zealand=====
[https://phys.org/news/2016-05-world-shallowest-slow-motion-earthquakes-offshore.html Article link] | University of Texas at Austin | Phys.org | May 5, 2016
 Seafloor sensors record shallow slow-slip earthquakes where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath New Zealand.

=====Cascadia Initiative to Monitor Northwest Pacific Seismic Risks=====
[https://phys.org/news/2015-08-cascadia-northwest-pacific-seismic.html Article link] | Oregon State University | Phys.org | August 18, 2015
 A large deployment of onshore and offshore seismometers improves understanding of the Cascadia subduction zone and Pacific Northwest earthquake risk.

=====Chikyu to Set Sail for IODP Expedition: Japan Trench Fast Drilling Project=====
[https://phys.org/news/2012-03-chikyu-iodp-japan-trench-fast.html Article link] | JAMSTEC | Phys.org | March 9, 2012
 The Chikyu drilling vessel prepares to drill near the Japan Trench to study the fault that generated the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

=====Scientists Study Earthquake Triggers in Pacific Ocean=====
[https://phys.org/news/2011-06-scientists-earthquake-triggers-pacific-ocean.html Article link] | IODP | Phys.org | June 2011
 Scientific drilling in the Pacific margin recovers cores that help researchers understand conditions controlling earthquake behavior.

===General Deep-Ocean Exploration===

=====Deep-Sea Exploration Goals: A Representative Approach to Observing the Seafloor=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-04-ocean-discovery-league-global-strategy.html Article link] | Ocean Discovery League | Phys.org | April 2, 2026
 Ocean Discovery League proposes a global plan to expand deep-seafloor observations, emphasizing how little of the deep ocean has been directly seen.

=====Uncharted Island Will Soon Appear on Nautical Charts=====
[https://phys.org/news/2026-04-uncharted-island-nautical.html Article link] | Phys.org | Phys.org | April 8, 2026
 An Antarctic expedition maps previously uncharted features, showing how marine surveys update scientific and navigation records.

=====The Mysterious Bend in the Hawaiian-Emperor Chain=====
[https://phys.org/news/2017-06-mysterious-hawaiian-emperor-chain.html Article link] | GEOMAR | Phys.org | June 8, 2017
 Scientists investigate the cause of the Hawaiian-Emperor bend, one of the most famous features on the Pacific seafloor.

=====How the Pacific Seafloor Got Its 60-Degree Bend=====
[https://phys.org/news/2017-11-pacific-seafloor-degree.html Article link] | CEED | Phys.org | November 10, 2017
 Researchers examine why the Hawaiian-Emperor chain bends sharply, a key question in Pacific plate motion and hotspot volcanism.

=====Composers Provide Explanation for Hawaiian-Emperor Bend=====
[https://www.geomar.de/en/news/article/composers-provide-explanation-for-hawaiian-emporer-bend Article link] | GEOMAR | GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel | April 27, 2015
 An international team links the Hawaiian-Emperor bend to large-scale Pacific plate deformation about 50 million years ago.