Seamounts icon

Education Theme

Seamounts

Seamounts are often remnants of extinct volcanoes and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Seamounts can be found in every world ocean basin and scientists estimate that the number of seamounts around the globe ranges from 14,700 to more than 33,000 total.

Choose from the sections below to further explore ocean exploration education resources on seamounts.

Jump to Section Lessons Fact Sheets Exploration Notes Ocean Facts Deep-sea Dialogues Expeditions Images and Videos

Lessons

These selected ocean exploration lessons were developed by educators and scientists to demonstrate key seamounts concepts. Lessons support the Next Generation Science Standards and the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts. (Note: The links provided in lessons are verified at the time of publication, but over time, may change or become obsolete.)

Volcanoes may either never be active enough to break the surface of the ocean or be sufficiently active to break the surface and form an island. The island may also be so heavy that it eventually sinks and forms a seamount. Thousands of these seamounts have been discovered and studied worldwide to help provide evidence of past and current tectonic processes. In this investigation, students analyze Hawaiian and Alaskan seamount/island chain maps and data tables, plus a demonstration to develop an explanation to the phenomenon: How do seamounts and island chains form in the middle of the ocean?
Student Investigation: Formation of Seamounts and Island Chains

Grade Level: 6-8
Focus: Earth Science/Plate Tectonics

Students analyze data and images to investigate how the distribution of seamounts and island chains provides evidence of past and current tectonic processes and develop an explanation to the phenomenon: How do seamounts and island chains form in the middle of the ocean?
Seamounts represent some of Earth’s tallest peaks, unexplored territories, and critical habitats supporting important fisheries across the globe. Students will apply the phenomenon of upwelling and currents to determine why many seamounts sustain diverse ecological communities and support surprising levels of biological productivity in nearby waters. Students analyze data and various models to evaluate how well they represent patterns of ocean currents around seamounts and determine the effects these current flows have on productivity.
Student Investigation: Seamounts and Biological Productivity

Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Earth Science/Biogeology

Students analyze data and use models to make sense of the role seamounts have in increasing productivity in overlying and surrounding ocean waters.

Additional Seamounts Resources

Fact Sheets
Exploration Notes - Field Stories
Ocean Facts

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

For more lessons and background information explore the Deep Ocean Education Project Website.

Searching for something? Email us: oceanexeducation@noaa.gov