West Rota Volcano | John Seach

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Mariana Islands

14.601 N, 144.775 E
summit elevation -300 m
Submarine volcano

West Rota is a submarine volcano with a 25 km diameter base and a caldera 6 × 10 km. It contains a disrinctly different composition to other volcanoes in the Mariana arc. The volcano consists of a felsic caldera similar to that found in the Izu and Kermadec Arcs.

Further reading
Clague, David A., et al. "Volcanic morphology of West Mata Volcano, NE Lau Basin, based on high-resolution bathymetry and depth changes." Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 12.11 (2011).

Stern, Robert J., et al. "Evolution of West Rota Volcano, an extinct submarine volcano in the southern Mariana Arc: Evidence from sea floor morphology, remotely operated vehicle observations and 40Ar–39Ar geochronological studies." Island Arc 17.1 (2008): 70-89.

West Rota Volcano Eruptions

2006, 2004

Submarine eruptions were observed in 2004 and 2006.
A caldera-forming eruption occurred 37,000-51,000 years ago.