The volcanic field lies about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south from Hawaiʻi Island,[1] at a depth of around 4,950 metres (16,240 ft) below sea level.

[2] It consists of[1] several metres thick[3] lava flows that are surrounded by sediment-covered seafloor mainly to the north and east and by clusters of[1] Cretaceous seamounts[2] mainly to the west and southwest.

[4] The lava flows erupted in the South Arch volcanic field were probably fluid and were produced at high rates.

[6] The volcanic field is located on the crest of the Hawaiian Arch, an area of Cretaceous seafloor around Hawaii which has buckled under the weight of the Hawaiian volcanoes, causing uplift and volcanic activity[1] where the crust has broken up, allowing magma to rise to the surface.

[20] It is possible that magma ascended to the surface mainly in areas where the lithosphere has anomalous properties and is more likely to crack rather than to flex; this would explain why the vents of the South Arch volcanic field coincide with Cretaceous seamounts.

[21] The South Arch volcanic field was discovered in 1986 through GLORIA sidescan sonar imaging and dredged in 1988.