Variation in cross‐sectional area of the axial ridge along the East Pacific Rise: Evidence for the magmatic budget of a fast spreading center

Abstract

Along the fast and ultrafast spreading East Pacific Rise, the cross‐sectional area of the axial ridge varies significantly over length scales similar to its morphologic segmentation. Using an automated method, we measure the ridge area (volume per kilometer along axis) where there is complete bathymetric coverage. Along 3500 km of the northern and southern East Pacific Rise, our two study areas encompass numerous transform faults, large overlapping spreading centers, small overlapping spreading centers, and smaller discontinuities (first‐, second‐, third‐, and fourth‐order discontinuities). The cross‐sectional area variation mimics the undulation of the ridge crest depth; local area maxima occur toward the middle of segments, and the axial area decreases by 40% or more at first‐ and second‐order discontinuities. Third‐order discontinuities are generally marked by smaller disruptions in the ridge area, and fourth‐order offsets do not systematically correspond with features of the cross‐sectional area profile. The correlation between shallower ridges and larger ridge areas breaks down at some locations because axial cross‐sectional area represents a longer term average of the ridge's magmatic state than axial depth. A correlation between large ridge areas and negative residual gravity anomalies indicates that inflated ridges are underlain by low‐density crust and mantle. Also, a correlation between larger area and higher MgO content of axial basalts suggests that inflated areas generally erupt hotter magmas which are presumably supplied more rapidly to the neovolcanic zone. The cross‐sectional area of the axial ridge appears to correlate with the width of the axis‐centered low‐velocity zone in the crust. These observations, as well as the absence of large, relict axial ridges off‐axis, indicate that the axial ridge originates from buoyancy due to thermal expansion and the presence of melt in the crust and mantle within about 10 km of the rise axis. Portions of the northern East Pacific Rise underlain by a magma chamber reflector generally occur where the ridge cross‐sectional area is greatest; this supports the connection between processes which inflate the axial ridge and those which heat the crust and upper mantle and produce melt. Thus, while the axial high on fast spreading centers resembles a constructional volcano in cross section, it is more like a long, narrow balloon whose cross‐sectional area is a sensitive indicator of magma supply. Using this relationship, we predict with 75% confidence that at least 45% of the unsurveyed northern East Pacific Rise (18°N to 13°N and 9°N to 5°N) and at least 60% of the southern East Pacific Rise (4°S to 23°S) is underlain by a magma chamber reflector.