Heat flow near the New England seamounts

Abstract

Five heat-flow measurements were made near the bases of Retriever, Picket, and Balanus seamounts in the New England seamount chain as part of a general survey of the seamounts and to determine whether there is any remanent volcanism associated with them. The heat flow of four stations has a mean of 1.09 μcal/cm2 sec; these stations are all the same within the accuracy of measurement. The heat flow at the fifth station is 1.34 to 1.65 μcal/cm2 sec. There are several possible explanations for this higher heat flow; none of these can be selected as the correct explanation. There is no evidence of remanent volcanic heat around the seamounts.