Seismic character of volcanic activity at the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2001 Seismic character of volcanic activity at the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge M. Tolstoy; M. Tolstoy 1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D.R. Bohnenstiehl; D.R. Bohnenstiehl 1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar M.H. Edwards; M.H. Edwards 2Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G.J. Kurras G.J. Kurras 3School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information M. Tolstoy 1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA D.R. Bohnenstiehl 1Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York 10964, USA M.H. Edwards 2Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA G.J. Kurras 3School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 20 Apr 2001 Revision Received: 06 Aug 2001 Accepted: 23 Aug 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (12): 1139–1142. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1139:SCOVAA>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 20 Apr 2001 Revision Received: 06 Aug 2001 Accepted: 23 Aug 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation M. Tolstoy, D.R. Bohnenstiehl, M.H. Edwards, G.J. Kurras; Seismic character of volcanic activity at the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge. Geology 2001;; 29 (12): 1139–1142. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1139:SCOVAA>2.0.CO;2 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 Never before has a volcanic eruption on a slow- or ultraslow- spreading mid-ocean ridge been both observed seismically and confirmed on the seafloor. During the first half of 1999, a long-lived volcanic-spreading event occurred on the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean. The seismicity associated with this event was unprecedented in duration and magnitude for a seafloor eruption. Sonar images from the U.S.S. Hawkbill, which passed over the area within four months of the start of activity, are consistent with the presence of a large, recently erupted flow and a volcanic peak directly in the area of seismic activity. Seismic activity began in mid-January and continued vigorously for three months; a reduced rate of activity persisted for an additional four months or more. In total, 252 events were large enough to be recorded on global seismic networks. Although a limited number of volcanic-spreading events have been observed globally, the duration and magnitude of the Gakkel Ridge swarm, when compared with volcanic seismicity at ridges spreading at intermediate and fast spreading rates, suggest that a negative power-law relationship may exist between these parameters and spreading rate. Fault activation, in response to magmatic emplacement, appears to have occurred over a broad region, suggesting that magma may have been tapped from mantle depths. The slow migration of the largest magnitude events along the axis of the rift valley suggests multiple magmatic pulses at depth. In combination with bathymetric setting and sidescan sonar confirmation, the seismic data for this event have provided a unique look at the scale and character of eruption processes at ultraslow-spreading rates. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.