A search for hydroacoustic signals associated with the 2 June 1988 temperature anomaly at axial seamount

Abstract

Data from the Wake Island hydrophone array is examined for signals possibly associated with sudden decreases in bottom temperature at Axial Seamount which is located on the Juan de Fuca Ridge. In spite of the extreme sensitivity of the Wake hydrophones to small explosive charges and unreported shallow focus earthquakes along the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and to unreported episodes of submarine volcanism, no sustained signals were found which appear to be related to the observed temperature anomalies. Because of intermittent recording problems, some hydroacoustic signals of extremely short duration, possibly associated with the temperature anomalies, could have escaped detection in the eight hours subsequent to the occurrence of these anomalies. However, no such signals could have escaped detection during an eight hour period prior to the onset of the observed anomalies since the recording system was working properly. The absence of signals indicates that sustained teleacoustically detectable submarine volcanism was not associated with the 2 June 1988 temperature anomaly.