Seamounts

Education Theme: Seamounts

Videos and Images, and Multimedia

Below you will find selected videos and images of seamounts from expeditions funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration; links to Multimedia Discovery Missions, which are interactive multimedia presentations and learning activities about seamounts; and additional links to other interesting resources.

Diagram showing deepwater upwelling, caused by nutrient-rich bottom-water hitting the seamounts and circulating around them, and potential flow of larvae from one seamount to another.

Deepwater Upwelling Around Seamounts Diagram

Diagram showing deepwater upwelling, caused by nutrient-rich bottom-water hitting the seamounts and circulating around them, and potential flow of larvae from one seamount to another.

A multibeam sonar map of New England Seamounts.

New Bathymetry Data

A multibeam sonar map of New England Seamounts.

This squid was observed during the Okeanos Explorer’s first-ever full day of midwater exploration in Musician Seamounts

Cranchiid Squid

This squid was observed during the Okeanos Explorer’s first-ever full day of midwater exploration in Musician Seamounts. More amazing seamount imagery and video from this expedition.

During the first dive of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones, we explored a seamount that had not been mapped, much less visually surveyed, making the dive a true exploration endeavor. Everything seen during the dive was thus new to human eyes and our exploration of the shallowest of three peaks just outside the Bermuda Exclusive Economic Zone did not disappoint.

All New Exploration of Seamounts Outside of Bermuda

During the first dive of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones, we explored a seamount that had not been mapped, much less visually surveyed, making the dive a true exploration endeavor.

Join Scott France, biology lead for the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, and Ashton Flinders, geology lead for the expedition, for an overview of what the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is and why it is important to explore. They also recount their favorite moments from the expedition, from finding a golden field of coral to working alongside scientists from different disciplines.

Geology and Biology of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Join Scott France, biology lead for the second Voyage to the Ridge 2022 expedition, and Ashton Flinders, geology lead for the expedition, for an overview of what the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is and why it is important to explore.

This 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition dive (19) took place on one of the prominent pinnacles of Retriever Seamount. Dense in biodiversity, this is one of four seamounts protected by the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

Protected Oasis

This 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition dive (19) took place on one of the prominent pinnacles of Retriever Seamount. Dense in biodiversity, this is one of four seamounts protected by the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

Video of a yellow sponge (genus Hertwigia) and pink sea star (genus Chondraster) collected during Dive 19 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Images of the pair have captured the attention of the public and the media due to their resemblance to the cartoon characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star.

Spongebob and Patrick

Video of a yellow sponge (genus Hertwigia) and pink sea star (genus Chondraster) collected during Dive 19 of the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Images of the pair have captured the attention of the public and the media due to their resemblance to the cartoon characters SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star.

Down at 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition, scientists didn’t expect to find much life... they were pleasantly surprised by the bountiful life that Allegheny Seamount revealed.

Life Two Miles Down

Down at 3,400 meters (11,155 feet) during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition, scientists didn’t expect to find much life... they were pleasantly surprised by the bountiful life that Allegheny Seamount revealed.

During an exploration of MacGregor Seamount in 2021,, we explored along the face of a near-vertical wall that may have been the remnants of an old volcanic cone that has since been eroded away. Given that the Corner Rise Seamounts were formed by hotspot volcanism around 75 million years ago, this could indeed be a rather old feature!

What Could Have Formed This?

During an exploration of MacGregor Seamount in 2021,, we explored along the face of a near-vertical wall that may have been the remnants of an old volcanic cone that has since been eroded away. Given that the Corner Rise Seamounts were formed by hotspot volcanism around 75 million years ago, this could indeed be a rather old feature!

The connections between transboundary waters, as well as the deep sea habitats they support, inspired the name of the “Deep Connections 2019” expedition. Through international partnership and collaboration, this expedition allowed science and exploration to be pursued across U.S. and Canadian borders.

The connections between transboundary waters, as well as the deep sea habitats they support, inspired the name of the “Deep Connections 2019” expedition.

This was the first ROV dive ever conducted in the Musicians Seamounts, north of the Hawaiian Islands, and the first in a series investigating the similarities and differences in community composition between different features across the Musicians Seamounts.

This was the first ROV dive ever conducted in the Musicians Seamounts.

Ever wonder why so many of our dives take place on seamounts? Here's an explanation from Dr. Santiago Herrera.

Exploring Deep Waters

Ever wonder why so many of our dives take place on seamounts? Here's an explanation from Dr. Santiago Herrera.

Expedition teams are able to combine high-resolution multibeam mapping data with remotely operated vehicle dives to give us an entirely new understanding of the mountains that rise from the deep and serve important roles in the overall ocean ecosystem.

Seamounts: A Geologic Puzzle

Expedition teams are able to combine high-resolution multibeam mapping data with remotely operated vehicle dives to give us an entirely new understanding of the mountains that rise from the deep and serve important roles in the overall ocean ecosystem.

During the 2014 Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts Expedition, scientists mapped a star shaped seamount for the first time, and explored to a depth of over 4600 meters. The team discussed pressure in the deep sea and discovered a number of interesting organisms and geological features.

Diving on a previously unknown seamount

During the 2014 Our Deepwater Backyard Expedition, scientists mapped a star shaped seamount for the first time, and explored to a depth of over 4600 meters.

During this dive on Swordfish Seamount we surveyed at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters, to determine how coral and sponge communities are impacted by the oxygen minimum zone.

Swordfish Seamount and the O2 Minimum Zone

During this dive on Swordfish Seamount we surveyed at a depth of approximately 1,000 meters, to determine how coral and sponge communities are impacted by the oxygen minimum zone.

This stunningly beautiful jellyfish was seen on April 24, 2016, while exploring the informally named 'Enigma Seamount' at a depth of ~3,700 meters.

Jellyfish at Enigma Seamount EX 1603

This stunningly beautiful jellyfish was seen on April 24, 2016, while exploring the informally named "Enigma Seamount" at a depth of ~3,700 meters.

Mapping the seafloor can reveal features, such as seamounts, that we didn't even know existed before. Mapping is a key foundational step in all ocean exploration operations.

Mapping the Ocean

Mapping the seafloor can reveal features, such as seamounts, that we didn't even know existed before. Mapping is a key foundational step in all ocean exploration operations.

Hawaii has been an integral part in developing our theory of plate tectonics for geologists. The age progression of the islands - younger in the southeast - getting older to the Northwest, basically gives us an estimate of how fast the plate was moving versus how quickly those Hawaiian volcanoes formed on top of the Pacific Plate.

Geology on the Ocean Floor

Hawaii has been an integral part in developing our theory of plate tectonics for geologists.

This 20 minute video taken by the ROV Deep Discoverer shows several highlights from the expedition.

Okeanos Explorer Northeast US Canyons Expedition 2013

This 20 minute video taken by the ROV Deep Discoverer shows several highlights from the expedition.

Bathymetric map of seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. Colors show different bottom depths and the white areas indicate regions where the seafloor has not yet been mapped.

Gulf of Alaska Seamounts

Bathymetric map of seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska. Colors show different bottom depths and the white areas indicate regions where the seafloor has not yet been mapped.

While exploring the deepwaters off of Hawaii in 2016, the Deep Discoverer ROV came across one of the largest aggregations of brisingid sea stars anyone on the ship had ever seen.

Sea Star aggregation

While exploring the deepwaters off of Hawaii in 2016, the Deep Discoverer ROV came across one of the largest aggregations of brisingid sea stars anyone on the ship had ever seen.

Composite image showing satellite-derived bathymetry data at the bottom, with the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer multibeam bathymetry transit data further revealing this unnamed Hawaiian Archipelago seamount overlain on top.

East Pearl & Hermes

Composite image showing satellite-derived bathymetry data at the bottom, with the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer multibeam bathymetry transit data.

Sponges are abundant and diverse at Mytilus Seamount. Notice this large “witch’s hat” sponge provides structure for numerous hexactinellid or glass sponges as well as some orange brittle stars.

Mytilus Seamount Sponge

Sponges are abundant and diverse at Mytilus Seamount. Notice this large “witch’s hat” sponge provides structure for numerous hexactinellid or glass sponges as well as some orange brittle stars.

Corals were diverse on Mytilus Seamount, but composition and abundance of corals differed between the north and south side of the seamount. We observed this colony of Jasonisis, a bamboo coral, with numerous crinoid associates.

Jasonisis Corals

Corals were diverse on Mytilus Seamount, but composition and abundance of corals differed between the north and south side of the seamount.

This new species of sponge has only ever been seen twice before in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

New Species of Sponge

This new species of sponge has only ever been seen twice before in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Seamount we mapped on the return voyage to Honolulu. This 'Mountain in the Deep' rose approximately 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) from the seafloor – a fitting end to this spectacular journey!

Mountain in the Deep

Seamount we mapped on the return voyage to Honolulu. This "Mountain in the Deep" rose approximately 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) from the seafloor – a fitting end to this spectacular journey!

An example of nearby seamounts with very different geomorphology.

An example of nearby seamounts with very different geomorphology.

Multimedia Discovery Missions (MDMs) are interactive multimedia presentations and learning activities that address topics ranging from Chemosynthesis and Hydrothermal Vent Life and Deep-sea Benthos to Food, Water, and Medicine from the Sea. Each MDM includes a seven to nine-minute animated Lesson, a four to five-minute animation on Global Impacts, and three interactive activities.

Seamount Mission

Multimedia Discovery Missions (MDMs) are interactive multimedia presentations and learning activities. Each MDM includes animation Lessons, Global Impacts, and interactive activities.

Dr. Les Watling, marine scientist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, describes the formation of seamounts, their geology and their associated ecological and biological diversity in the 45 minute interview.

Seamounts, Les Watling Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa

Dr. Les Watling describes the formation of seamounts, their geology, and their associated ecological and biological diversity.

View colorful highlights of deep-sea marine life from the Gulf of Alaska in 2002, including fan corals, vase sponges, basket stars and squid. This video comes from a NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration mission to study unexplored seamounts in the Gulf of Alaska.

Gulf of Alaska 2002

View colorful highlights of deep-sea marine life from the Gulf of Alaska in 2002, including fan corals, vase sponges, basket stars and squid.

In 2003 Scientists completed a 64-day cruise to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, onboard the University of Hawaii's Research Vessel, Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa, and the Pisces IV and V Submersibles. They studied the regions virtually unexplored deep-sea corals, submarine canyons, and seamounts.

Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Expedition 2003

In 2003 Scientists completed a 64-day cruise to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, onboard the University of Hawaii's Research Vessel, Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa, and the Pisces IV and V Submersibles.

The above items are only a selection of the educational materials highlighting seamounts on our website.

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