Seismic Study of the Shallowest, Most Robust East Pacific Rise: Magmatic and Spreading Rate Influences on Axial and Young Ocean Crustal Structures

9402172 Mutter This is an eight-day multichannel seismic investigation of the robust, intermediate-to-fast-spreading ridge north of the Orozco fracture zone. The aim is to characterize the nature of the axial magma chamber reflections and determine variability in depth, strike, width, and thickness of reflecting bodies as well as to determine relationship between these variables and ridge morphology. The 'normal-looking' ridge just north of the Orozco will also be characterized. This seismic investigation of an inflated- and normal-looking ridge crest will address whether bathymetric expressions can be used to infer magmatic budget. Can the state of magmatic activity in the crust and on the seafloor? ***