Physics
Scientific paper
May 1984
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1984e%26psl..68..249j&link_type=abstract
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 68, Issue 2, p. 249-258.
Physics
7
Scientific paper
Thirteen geophysical profiles across the Reykjanes Ridge south of Iceland are used in a quantitative investigation of basement morphology. We examine both the long-wavelength thermal subsidence effect (age-depth relationship) and the shorter wavelength (10-50 km) time-transgressive structures previously postulated. A method is developed to look at the variability, with respect to distance along the spreading ridge, in subsidence on transverse profiles. We assume a relationship D(t) = C1t1/2 + C2, where D is depth, t is crustal age in m.y., C1 is the subsidence constant (in proportional to mantle temperature), and C2 is initial depth, which we assume not to exhibit long period (>1 m.y.) time dependence. The subsidence constant (C1) was computed for each profile and each flank by a least-squares fit of subsidence curves to basement profiles corrected for sediment loading. The principal result of this analysis is that longitudinal variation in subsidence rates and axial depths can explain the regional bathymetric character of the Reykjanes Ridge flanks. C1 increases from around 240 m/(m.y.)1/2 close to the Iceland coast to 280 m/(m.y.)1/2 400 km southwest of Iceland. Shorter longitudinal variations in C1 may relate to the presence of magma centers. C1 tends to be lower on the west flank, suggesting higher temperatures. The overall Reykjanes Ridge subsidence constant is computed to be 273 +/- 30 m/(m.y.)1/2, significantly less than the normal value of 350 for oceanic crust. The secondary time-transgressive basement structures may be due to off-axis thermally induced fracturing rather than subaxial flow. If they were caused by flow, the features must originate in a manner more complicated than previously suggested.
Eldholm Olav
Johansen Bard
Vogt Peter R.
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