Guyot
Also called: Tablemount · Topic: Oceans: Hydrological Cycle, Relief of the Ocean Floor, Temperature and Salinity · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 12 "Water (Oceans)"
Meaning
A guyot is a flat-topped seamount (underwater volcanic mountain). It forms in stages. First, a volcano rises close to or above the sea surface. Then waves wear its top down until it is flat. Later, the mountain slowly sinks deep below the surface. The Pacific Ocean alone is estimated to have more than 10,000 seamounts and guyots.
Example
Many of the old volcanoes in the Emperor Seamount Chain, which runs north-west from Hawaii in the North Pacific, are flat-topped guyots.
Don't confuse with
- Seamount: a seamount has a pointed top. A guyot has a flat top because waves wore it down before it sank.