An altimetric and bathymetric study of elastic thickness in the central Pacific Ocean

Abstract

Using a 1-D spectral approach we recover the underlying topography across ten seamounts in the south central Pacific Ocean from high-resolution along-track satellite altimetry data, this in turn yields an estimate for the elastic thickness value. Theoretical modelling showed that after correcting for the effects of one-dimensionality, this approach can clearly indicate areas of low elastic thickness values. Our results show that whilst a number of the seamounts in this region display anomalously low elastic thickness values, some of the seamounts studied have values close to those expected. Coupled with the results from geochemical and heat flow studies, this suggests that the region of low elastic thickness values is not as extensive as previously thought.