What controls the eruptive vent morphology on Mid-oceanic ridges - constraints from fine-scale sonar images of the Southwest Indian ridge

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Project objective

Research objectives and content To date, crustal accretion models have been generated for fast- and slow-spreading ridges. What has bee notably lacking in this work are constraints on super-slow spreading ridges. The aim of this project is to provide new insights in the crust emplacement mode on mid-oceanic ridges using the first sonar images of the super-slow Southwest Indian Ridge acquired in October 1997. These images will be interpreted in terms of geological features: different smooth' and 'hummocky' morphologies of volcanoes, fault scarps, sedimented terrains... They will allow us to determine the relationships between the tectonic and volcanic processes. Furthermore. the diversity and associations of volcanic features revealed by these images will provide the opportunity to link models of the emplacement of magma in the oceanic crust to the morphological features representing the surface extrusion associated with this emplacement. I will thus determine the main factors controlling the eruptive vent morphology. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) The objective of the training is to acquire highly skilled in processing and interpretation of side-scan sonar images but also in modelisation of crustal accretion of mid-oceanic ridges: The benefit of this training will be to enhance my research experience in order to apply for a research post in France. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)

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Participants

• NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL · SWINDONCoordinatorUnited Kingdom

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