guyots

A guyot, also called a tablemount, is a submarine volcanic cone with a flat or gently inclined summit that rises from the ocean floor. It is a type of seamount distinguished by its flat top rather than a pointed peak. The name is traditionally attributed to Arnold Henry Guyot, a 19th-century geographer.

Formation and characteristics

Guyots form as volcanic islands built above a mantle hotspot accumulate, grow tall enough to reach near sea level, and are then subject to erosion by waves. As the oceanic plate moves away from the hotspot, the volcanic center cools and subsides, and the island becomes submerged. Wave erosion continues on the elevated portions, producing a wide, flat summit that remains as the volcano sinks further below the surface. Today, guyots lie at various depths beneath the sea, with their flat tops typically tens to hundreds of meters below sea level in many cases, though some tops are closer to or farther from the surface depending on age and tectonic history.

Morphology and distribution

The flat-topped summits of guyots are often surrounded by steep or scalloped sides. They are common in many ocean basins, especially the Pacific, where long-lived hotspot tracks have produced extensive flows of volcanic activity. As part of the broader class of seamounts, guyots contribute to the irregular topography of the seafloor, influence local currents, and provide habitats for deep-sea organisms in modern times.

Significance

Guyots are important for understanding plate tectonics, hotspot motion, and past sea levels. They are used in bathymetric mapping and geophysical studies to interpret crustal age, subsidence rates, and the history of oceanic basins.