<P> There are more seamounts in the Pacific Ocean than in the Atlantic , and their distribution can be described as comprising several elongate chains of seamounts superimposed on a more or less random background distribution . Seamount chains occur in all three major ocean basins , with the Pacific having the most number and most extensive seamount chains . These include the Hawaiian ( Emperor ) , Mariana , Gilbert , Tuomotu and Austral Seamounts ( and island groups ) in the north Pacific and the Louisville and Sala y Gomez ridges in the southern Pacific Ocean . In the North Atlantic Ocean , the New England Seamounts extend from the eastern coast of the United States to the mid-ocean ridge . Craig and Sandwell noted that clusters of larger Atlantic seamounts tend to be associated with other evidence of hotspot activity , such as on the Walvis Ridge , Bermuda Islands and Cape Verde Islands . The mid-Atlantic ridge and spreading ridges in the Indian Ocean are also associated with abundant seamounts . Otherwise , seamounts tend not to form distinctive chains in the Indian and Southern Oceans , but rather their distribution appears to be more or less random . </P>
<P> There are more seamounts in the Pacific Ocean than in the Atlantic , and their distribution can be described as comprising several elongate chains of seamounts superimposed on a more or less random background distribution . Seamount chains occur in all three major ocean basins , with the Pacific having the most number and most extensive seamount chains . These include the Hawaiian ( Emperor ) , Mariana , Gilbert , Tuomotu and Austral Seamounts ( and island groups ) in the north Pacific and the Louisville and Sala y Gomez ridges in the southern Pacific Ocean . In the North Atlantic Ocean , the New England Seamounts extend from the eastern coast of the United States to the mid-ocean ridge . Craig and Sandwell noted that clusters of larger Atlantic seamounts tend to be associated with other evidence of hotspot activity , such as on the Walvis Ridge , Bermuda Islands and Cape Verde Islands . The mid-Atlantic ridge and spreading ridges in the Indian Ocean are also associated with abundant seamounts . Otherwise , seamounts tend not to form distinctive chains in the Indian and Southern Oceans , but rather their distribution appears to be more or less random . </P>
what is a chain of underwater mountains called
what is a chain of underwater mountains called
Seamount chains
Seamount chains