About Adams Seamount
Adams Seamount is a lava dome rising to -39 meters (-128 feet) in United Kingdom's Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Its last known eruption dates to 50 BCE, in prehistoric times. The volcano has produced 4 recorded eruptions.
Geography & Climate
Adams Seamount is located in United Kingdom, within the Pitcairn Hotspot Volcano Group of the broader Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. Situated at 25.37° S, 129.27° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subtropical climate zone. With an elevation of -39 meters — below sea level — Adams Seamount is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature. Submarine volcanoes make up the majority of Earth's volcanic activity, though most eruptions go unobserved beneath the ocean surface. The volcanic landform is characterized as a minor, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Adams Seamount is an intraplate volcano, meaning it formed away from any plate boundary. These volcanoes are often powered by hotspots — plumes of abnormally hot mantle material rising from deep within the Earth. Hotspot volcanoes like Adams Seamount tend to produce effusive eruptions with lava flows that can be relatively predictable, giving nearby communities in United Kingdom more time to prepare. However, they can also produce explosive phases, particularly when magma interacts with groundwater. The dominant rock type is basalt / picro-basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
Eruption History Summary
Adams Seamount has 4 recorded eruptions in the geological database, spanning from 5050 BCE to 50 BCE. These eruptions span roughly 5,000 years of volcanic history.
GVP Reference Summary
Adams Seamount was constructed above the Pitcairn hot spot in the central Pacific, about 90 km WSW of Pitcairn Island. The massive seamount rises about 3,500 m to within 59 m of the ocean surface about 25 km SE of Bounty Seamount. Bounty Seamount, which rises to within 450 m of the oceans surface, appears morphologically more youthful than Adams and water samples indicate continuing hydrothermal activity, two late-Pleistocene Potassium-Argon dates of about 338,000 and 350,000 years were obtained from the flanks. Alkali basaltic rocks were dredged from the flanks of Adams Seamount, whose summit appears to consist of a trachytic lava dome. Several Potassium-Argon dates of Holocene age were obtained from dredges at Adams Seamount (Guillou et al., 1997), the youngest of which was 2,000 +/- 1,000 years. In addition to the Adams and Bounty seamounts, the Pitcairn chain contains about 20 small volcanic cones about 500 m high.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
4 Recorded Eruptions
| Year | VEI | Type | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 BCE | 0 | Confirmed Eruption | — |
| 1050 BCE | 0 | Confirmed Eruption | — |
| 4050 BCE | 0 | Confirmed Eruption | — |
| 5050 BCE | 0 | Confirmed Eruption | — |
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Adams Seamount
Is Adams Seamount an active volcano?+
Adams Seamount is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Eruption Dated." The last known eruption was in 50 BCE. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
When did Adams Seamount last erupt?+
The most recent recorded eruption of Adams Seamount occurred in 50 BCE with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 0. The eruption was classified as a "Confirmed Eruption." Adams Seamount has 4 recorded eruptions in total.
How high is Adams Seamount?+
Adams Seamount has a summit elevation of -39 meters (-128 feet) above sea level. With an elevation of -39 meters (below sea level), this is a submarine or submerged volcanic feature.
What type of volcano is Adams Seamount?+
Adams Seamount is classified as a Lava dome. Lava dome volcanoes have distinct geological characteristics that set them apart from other volcanic types.
Where is Adams Seamount located?+
Adams Seamount is located in United Kingdom, in the Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Pitcairn Hotspot Volcano Group. Its exact coordinates are -25.370° latitude, -129.270° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Adams Seamount?+
Adams Seamount can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. United Kingdom may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
