What are isolated volcanic peaks in the ocean referred to as?

Isolated volcanic peaks in the ocean are referred to as seamounts when they rise from the ocean floor but do not reach the surface. These underwater mountains are formed by volcanic activity and can vary greatly in height and shape. When a seamount gets eroded and its peak is flattened, it may be referred to as a guyot.

Seamounts can be significant for marine ecosystems as they provide habitats for various marine life and are often areas of increased biological productivity due to upwelling currents that bring nutrient-rich waters to the surface.

Other terms such as oceanic ridges refer to underwater mountain ranges formed by tectonic plate movements, while deep-ocean trenches are narrow, steep-sided depressions in the ocean floor formed at convergent plate boundaries. Atolls are ring-shaped coral reefs that typically surround a lagoon and do not classify as isolated volcanic peaks. This context helps clarify the distinct characteristics of seamounts and guyots compared to other oceanic features.