Shallow structure of the eastern segment of the Mediterranean Ridge deduced from seismic and side-scan sonar data

Abstract

The eastern Mediterranean Ridge reveals a peculiar feature called the “United Nations Rise”. It is notable for its complex morphology, interior structure, and mud volcanism. Its unusual structural–morphological characteristics are explained by its location at a junction of the western and eastern branches of the ridge and by the probable tectonic escape of accretionary prism sediments from the west. The geophysical data on the shallow structure of the eastern ridge branch showed some unusual structural trends, which could not be expected from the overall tectonic stress distribution. They are interpreted as resulting from the southward expansion of the Hellenic Arc.