As I looked through the contributions to this special issue of Oceanography devoted to research on seamounts, I reflected on how productive, diverse, and intellectually fruitful this line of inquiry has proven to be. Perhaps this outcome might not have been obvious back when seamount research was in its infancy, motivated by concern for the navigation hazards that seamounts pose for submarines. Fortunately, this research direction, as is the case for many others, benefited from the enlightened attitude of the Office of Naval Research, which supported topical research studies broadly. Later investments by the National Science Foundation, other US agencies, and their European and Asian counterparts, enriched the science even further.

McNutt, M. 2010. Foreword. Oceanography 23(1):16–17, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.58.

Emerson, D., and C.L. Moyer. 2010. Microbiology of seamounts: Common patterns observed in community structure. Oceanography 23(1):148–163, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.67.

Fisher, A.T., and C.G. Wheat. 2010. Seamounts as conduits for massive fluid, heat, and solute fluxes on ridge flanks. Oceanography 23(1):74–87, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.63.

Hein, J.R., T.A. Conrad, and H. Staudigel. 2010. Seamount mineral deposits: A source of rare metals for high-technology industries. Oceanography 23(1):174–189, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.70.

Koppers, A.A.P., and A.B. Watts. 2010. Intraplate seamounts as a window into deep Earth processes. Oceanography 23(1):42–57, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.61.

Lavelle, J.W., and C. Mohn. 2010. Motion, commotion, and biophysical connections at deep ocean seamounts. Oceanography 23(1):90–103, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.64.

Morato, T., T.J. Pitcher, M.R. Clark, G. Menezes, F. Tempera, F. Porteiro, E. Giacomello, and R.S. Santos. 2010. Can we protect seamounts for research? A call for conservation. Oceanography 23(1):190–199, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.71.

Pitcher, T.J., M.R. Clark, T. Morato, and R. Watson. 2010. Seamount fisheries: Do they have a future? Oceanography 23(1):134–144, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.66.

Shank, T.M. 2010. Seamounts: Deep-ocean laboratories of faunal connectivity, evolution, and endemism. Oceanography 23(1):108–122, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.65.

Staudigel, H., and D.A. Clague. 2010. The geological history of deep-sea volcanoes: Biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere interactions. Oceanography 23(1):58–71, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.62.

Staudigel, H., A.A.P. Koppers, T.A. Plank, and B.B. Hanan. 2010. Seamounts in the subduction factory. Oceanography 23(1):176–181, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.69.

Watts, A.B., A.A.P. Koppers, and D.P. Robinson. 2010. Seamount subduction and earthquakes. Oceanography 23(1):166–173, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.68.

Wessel, P., D.T. Sandwell, and S.-S. Kim. 2010. The global seamount census. Oceanography 23(1):24–33, https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2010.60.

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