New insights into mid-ocean ridge volcanic processes from the 2005–2006 eruption of the East Pacific Rise, 9°46′N–9°56′N

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2007 New insights into mid-ocean ridge volcanic processes from the 2005–2006 eruption of the East Pacific Rise, 9°46′N–9°56′N S. Adam Soule; S. Adam Soule 1Geology & Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel J. Fornari; Daniel J. Fornari 1Geology & Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael R. Perfit; Michael R. Perfit 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth H. Rubin Kenneth H. Rubin 3Department of Geology & Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information S. Adam Soule 1Geology & Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Daniel J. Fornari 1Geology & Geophysics Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA Michael R. Perfit 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA Kenneth H. Rubin 3Department of Geology & Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Mar 2007 Revision Received: 13 Jul 2007 Accepted: 18 Jul 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2007) 35 (12): 1079–1082. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23924A.1 Article history Received: 24 Mar 2007 Revision Received: 13 Jul 2007 Accepted: 18 Jul 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. Adam Soule, Daniel J. Fornari, Michael R. Perfit, Kenneth H. Rubin; New insights into mid-ocean ridge volcanic processes from the 2005–2006 eruption of the East Pacific Rise, 9°46′N–9°56′N. Geology 2007;; 35 (12): 1079–1082. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23924A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Digital seafloor imagery collected on 37 camera tows and Alvin dives, in which we identify 186 contacts between new and old lava, are used to create the most detailed map of a mid-ocean ridge (MOR) eruption to date. Lava flows erupted in 2005–2006 at the East Pacific Rise (EPR) covered an area of 14.6 km2 along ∼18 km of the EPR crest between 9°46′ and 9°56′N. The 2005–2006 lava is characterized by inflated lobate and sheet morphologies in the flow interiors and pillow forms at terminal flow fronts. Numerous lava channels ∼10–50 m wide and 1–5 m deep trending approximately east-west served as distributory pathways. Eruptions were sourced from fissures within the EPR axial summit trough as well as fissures located on an off-axis fissure mound ∼600 m east of the EPR axis between 9°52′ and 9°56′N. Portions of the lava flow reached as far as ∼2 km east of the axis near 9°51.2′N. Using a conservative estimate of 1.5 m for the average flow thickness implies that the 2005–2006 eruptions produced ∼22 × 106 m3 of lava, 4–5 times larger than estimated volumes of 1991–1992 EPR lava flows. Estimated lava volume for the 2005–2006 eruptions represents <15% of the magma available in the axial magma chamber. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.