Swath Bathymetry Processing of GLORI-B and SeaBeam 2000

Abstract

A new bathymetry processing software package has been developed to postprocess new GLORI-B swath bathymetry data using preexisting techniques. GLORI-B bathymetry is calculated using an interferometry (phase delay) method using the modified GLORIA towfish which has parallel rows of transducers on both sides. We describe four types of artifacts observed during the first use of this new system during Legs 5 and 6 of the Gloria Expedition which surveyed the fastest spreading segment of the global seafloor spreading system and the broad chain of volcanoes near Easter Island. These artifacts include cross-track bias, along-track bias, a 'dropped edge' effect, and random noise. We describe and illustrate how we minimize these artifacts. We merge the SeaBeam 2000 bathymetry data with the GLORI-B bathymetry data to produce a final bathymetric mosaic which covers about 243,400 km2 and shows a different style of diffuse widely spread volcanism not previously observed along hotspot chains. The data are used in several studies describing seamount morphology, elastic thickness of the lithosphere, tectonic and geochemical evolution of the area, and mantle flow from a hotspot to a superfast seafloor spreading center.