Seamount Chain Research Articles

Isotopic fingerprinting of biogeochemical processes and iron sources in the iron-limited surface Southern Ocean

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient that limits primary productivity throughout the surface of the Southern Ocean. Here, we present the first high-resolution depth profiles for dissolved Fe and Fe isotope ratios (δ56Fe) from all major zones of the Southern Ocean, collected during the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition in austral summer 2017. Open-ocean surface waters are characterized by remarkably high δ56Fe values (up to +1.6‰) and very low Fe concentrations (<0.05 nmolkg−1). We attribute the elevated δ56Fe values above the ferricline to the effect of continuous shallow cycling processes (uptake, recycling, and binding of Fe to organic ligands), with only a very limited resupply of Fe from below. Below the ferricline, δ56Fe values approach ∼0‰ and remain constant down to our deepest samples at 1000 m, with no obvious isotope signal from regeneration. This overall pattern in δ56Fe is modified near islands, continental shelves and hydrothermal vents, where distinct δ56Fe signatures are associated with different Fe sources. Near the volcanic Balleny Islands, elevated surface Fe concentrations associated with low δ56Fe are indicative of reductive release of isotopically light Fe from sediments. Elevated δ56Fe values at depth near the Balleny seamount chain and near the East Scotia Arc may reflect distal hydrothermal influences, caused by fractionation associated with precipitation or the loss of specific phases of Fe during long-range transport. Sedimentary sources of isotopically light Fe on the Antarctic Peninsula are important for shelf waters. Long-distance transport of this sediment-derived Fe and its influence on surface waters are strongly dependent on the regional circulation, and may ultimately be the source of light Fe previously observed within Antarctic Intermediate Water in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean.

New evidence for Late Cretaceous plume-related seamounts in the Middle East sector of the Neo-Tethys: Constraints from geochemistry, petrology, and mineral chemistry of the magmatic rocks from the western Durkan Complex (Makran Accretionary Prism, SE Iran)

The Durkan Complex in the Makran Accretionary Prism (SE Iran) has been interpreted either as a continental margin succession or a Late Cretaceous tectonically disrupted seamount chain. New whole rock and clinopyroxene chemical data for basaltic and metabasaltic rocks of the Durkan Complex allow us to distinguish two main rock groups: a) rocks showing transitional chemical affinity (Group 1) and compositions resembling those of plume-type mid-oceanic ridge basalts; b) rocks with within-plate oceanic island basalt (OIB) compositions showing a clear alkaline affinity (Group 2). Based on whole rock REE contents and clinopyroxene chemistry, alkaline rocks can be further subdivided in two sub-groups, namely, the Group 2a and 2b. Compared to Group 2a, Group 2b rocks show a more pronounced alkaline nature marked by higher whole rock La/Yb and Sm/Dy ratios and higher TiO2 and Na2O contents in clinopyroxenes. Trace element and REE petrogenetic models show that the Durkan basaltic rocks were generated from the partial melting of depleted sub-oceanic mantle source that was metasomatized by OIB-type chemical components in a within-plate oceanic setting. The chemical differences in the three rock groups are related to different combinations of partial melting degree, depths of melting, and various extent of enrichment of the mantle sources by OIB-type chemical components, which are related, in turn, to a Late Cretaceous mantle plume activity in the northern Neo-Tethys realm. We suggest that the Durkan Complex formed in a seamount setting and that its different volcano-sedimentary successions record different stages of seamount formation.

Geochemistry of Surface Sediments From the Emperor Seamount Chain, North Pacific

Investigating the composition and distribution of pelagic marine sediments is fundamental in the field of marine sedimentology. The spatial distributions of surface sediment are unclear due to limited investigation along the Emperor Seamount Chain of the North Pacific. In this study, a suite of sedimentological and geochemical proxies were analyzed, including the sediment grain size, organic carbon, CaCO3, major and rare earth elements of 50 surface sediment samples from the Emperor Seamount Chain, spanning from ∼33°N to ∼52°N. On the basis of sedimentary components, we divide them into three Zones (I, II, and III) spatially with distinct features. Sediments in Zone I (∼33°N–44°N) and Zone III (49.8°N–53°N) are dominated by clayey silt, and mainly consist of sand and silty sand in Zone II. The mean grain size of the sortable silt shows that the hydrodynamic condition in the study area is significantly stronger than that of the abyssal plain, especially at the water depth of 1,000–2,500 m. The CaCO3 contents in sediments above 4,000 m range from 20 to 84% but decrease sharply to less than 1.5% below 4,000 m, confirming that the water depth of 4,000 m is the carbonate compensation depth of the study area. Strong positive correlations between Al2O3 and Fe2O3, TiO2, MgO, and K2O (R &amp;gt; 0.9) in the bulk sediments indicate pronounced contributions of terrigenous materials from surrounding continent mass to the study area. Furthermore, the eolian dust makes contributions to the composition of bulk sediments as confirmed by rare earth elements. There is no significant correlation between grain size and major and minor elements, which indicates that the sedimentary grain size does not exert important effects on terrigenous components. There is significant negative δCe and positive δEu anomalies at all stations. The negative Ce anomaly mainly exists in carbonate-rich sediments, inheriting the signal of seawater. The positive Eu anomaly indicates widespread volcanism contributions to the study area from active volcanic islands arcs around the North Pacific. The relative contributions of terrestrial, volcanic, and biogenic materials vary with latitude and water depth in the study area.

Plume-ridge interaction induced migration of the Hawaiian-Emperor seamounts

The history of the Hawaiian hotspot is of enduring interest in studies of plate motion and mantle flow, and has been investigated by many researchers using the detailed history of the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamount chain. One of the unexplained aspects of this history is the apparent offset of several Emperor seamounts from the Hawaii plume track. Here we show that the volcanic migration rates of the Emperor seamounts based on existing data are inconsistent with the drifting rate of the Pacific plate, and indicate northward and then southward “absolute movements” of the seamounts. Numerical modeling suggests that attraction and capture of the upper part of the plume by a moving spreading ridge led to variation in the location of the plume’s magmatic output at the surface. Flow of the plume material towards the ridge led to apparent southward movement of Meiji. Then, the upper part of the plume was carried northward until 65 Ma ago. After the ridge and the plume became sufficiently separated, magmatic output moved back to be centered over the plume stem. These changes are apparent in variations in the volume of seamounts along the plume track. Chemical and isotopic compositions of basalt from the Emperor Seamount chain changed from depleted (strong mid-ocean ridge affinity) in Meiji and Detroit to enriched (ocean island type), supporting declining influence from the ridge. Although its surface expression was modified by mantle flow and by plume-ridge interactions, the stem of the Hawaiian plume may have been essentially stationary during the Emperor period.

Report on hydrozoans (Cnidaria), excluding Stylasteridae, from the Emperor Seamounts, western North Pacific Ocean.

Fourteen species of hydroids, collected during August 2019 by ROV SuBastian of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, are reported from the Emperor Seamount chain in the western North Pacific Ocean. Two others, Candelabrum sp. and Eudendrium sp., were observed only on videos taken by the ROV. From collections and video observations, eight species of hydroids were found at Jingū Seamount, three at Yomei, Nintoku, and Annei seamounts, and one at Koko Seamount and Hess Rise. At Suiko and Godaigo seamounts, hydroids were seen in videos but they could not be identified. Latebrahydra schulzei, an endobiotic associate of the hexactinellid sponge Walteria flemmingii Schulze, 1886 from Annei Seamount and Hess Rise, is described as a new genus and species tentatively attributed to Hydractiniidae L. Agassiz, 1862. Another new species, Hydractinia galeai, is described from Jingū Seamount. Among its distinctive characters is a zooid termed a sellectozooid, likely serving in both food capture and defence. Hydroids examined from Yomei, Nintoku, and Jingū seamounts are elements of a cold-water fauna occurring in the North Pacific Boreal Bathyal province, while those of Annei and Koko seamounts, and Hess Rise, are part of the biota of the Central North Pacific Bathyal province. Hydroids identified as Bouillonia sp., from Nintoku Seamount, represent the first record of this predominantly deep water tubulariid genus in the North Pacific Ocean. Bonneviella superba Nutting, 1915, from Jingū Seamount, is reported for the first time outside the Aleutian Islands. Bonneviella cf. gracilis Fraser, 1939, known elsewhere only from Dease Strait in the western Canadian Arctic, was also collected on Jingū. In addition to hydroids, medusae of Ptychogastria polaris Allman, 1878 were observed on videos from Nintoku, Jingū, Annei, and Koko seamounts at depths between 2423-1422 m. An unidentified siphonophore was observed near bottom at 2282 m on Nintoku Seamount.

Geomorphological and Spatial Characteristics of Underwater Volcanoes in the Easternmost Australian-Antarctic Ridge

Underwater volcanoes and their linear distribution on the flanks of mid-ocean ridges are common submarine topographic structures at intermediate- and fast-spreading systems, where sufficient melt supplies are often available. Such magma sources beneath the seafloor located within a few kilometers of the corresponding ridge-axis tend to concentrate toward the axis during the upwelling process and contribute to seafloor formation. As a result, seamounts on the flanks of the ridge axis are formed at a distance from the spreading axis and distributed asymmetrically about the axis. In this study, we examined three linearly aligned seamount chains on the flanks of the KR1 ridge, which is the easternmost and longest Australian-Antarctic Ridge (AAR) segment. The AAR is an intermediate-spreading rate system located between the Southeast Indian Ridge and Macquarie Triple Junction of the Australian-Antarctic-Pacific plates. By inspecting the high-resolution shipboard multi-beam bathymetric data newly acquired in the study area, we detected 20 individual seamounts. The volcanic lineament runs parallel to the spreading direction of the KR1 segment. The geomorphologic parameters of height, basal area, volume, and summit types of the identified seamounts were individually measured. We also investigated the spatial distribution of the seamounts along the KR1 segment, which exhibits large variations in axial morphology with depth along the ridge axis. Based on the geomorphology and spatial distribution, all the KR1 seamounts can be divided into two groups: the subset seamounts of volcanic chains distributed along the KR1 segment characterized by high elevation and large volume, and the small seamounts distributed mostly on the western KR1. The differences in the volumetric magnitude of volcanic eruptions on the seafloor and the distance from the given axis between these two groups indicate the presence of magma sources with different origins.

What Controls Effective Elastic Thickness of the Lithosphere in the Pacific Ocean?

AbstractThe effective elastic thickness () of the lithosphere is a proxy for mechanical strength and can be used to constrain lithospheric rheology and understand how surface deformation relates to deep Earth processes. Here, we map variations over the Pacific Ocean from the inversion of the admittance between free‐air gravity anomaly and bathymetry data calculated using a continuous wavelet transform, taking both surface and subsurface loads into account. The Pacific lithosphere show ranging between 0 and 80 km with a mean of 13.5 km and a standard deviation of 12.3 km. We find that is generally poorly correlated with plate loading age, crustal age, heat flow and Curie point depth, except for relatively young (&lt;60 Ma) and warm lithospheres. Most oceanic plateaus and seamounts show km, with the lowest values (&lt;5 km) around active spreading centers. The highest estimates (&gt;30 km) are found along subduction zones and around the Hawaiian‐Emperor Seamount Chain (HESC). Taken together, these results support a temperature control on for small loads and warm lithosphere through steady‐state creep processes, but strain hardening operating at large plastic strain and low temperature could explain high associated with large‐amplitude and long‐wavelength loads (subduction zones and the HESC) and should be incorporated in yield strength models of oceanic .

Seismic Structure, Gravity Anomalies and Flexure Along the Emperor Seamount Chain

AbstractThe Hawaiian‐Emperor seamount chain in the Pacific Ocean has provided fundamental insights into hotspot generated intraplate volcanism and the long‐term strength of oceanic lithosphere. However, only a few seismic experiments to determine crustal and upper mantle structure have been carried out on the Hawaiian Ridge, and no deep imaging has ever been carried out along the Emperor seamounts. Here, we present the results of an active source seismic experiment using 29 Ocean‐Bottom Seismometers (OBS) carried out along a strike profile of the seamounts in the region of Jimmu and Suiko guyots. Joint reflection and refraction tomographic inversion of the OBS data show the upper crust is highly heterogeneous withPwave velocities &lt;4–5 km s−1, which are attributed to extrusive lavas and clastics. In contrast, the lower crust is remarkably homogeneous with velocities of 6.5–7.2 km s−1, which we attribute to oceanic crust and mafic intrusions. Moho is identified by a strongPmParrival at offsets of 20–80 km, yielding depths of 13–16 km. The underlying mantle is generally homogeneous with velocities in the range 7.9–8.0 km s−1. The crust and mantle velocity structure has been verified by gravity modeling. While top of oceanic crust prior to volcano loading is not recognized as a seismic or gravity discontinuity, flexural modeling reveals a ∼5.0–5.5 km thick preexisting oceanic crust that is overlain by a ∼8 km thick volcanic edifice. Unlike at the Hawaiian Ridge, we find no evidence of magmatic underplating.

The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges: A review of the importance, opportunities and challenges for protecting a global diversity hotspot on the high seas

The Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are two seamount chains of volcanic origin, which include over 110 seamounts that collectively stretch across over 2,900 km in the southeastern Pacific. Ecosystems in this region are isolated by the Atacama Trench, the Humboldt Current System, and an extreme oxygen minimum zone. This isolation has produced a unique biodiversity that is marked by one of the highest levels of marine endemism on Earth. These areas also provide important habitats and ecological stepping stones for whales, sea turtles, corals, and a multitude of other ecologically important species, including 82 species that are threatened or endangered. Recent explorations in this region have documented one of the deepest light-dependent marine ecosystems on Earth, as well as numerous species that are new to science. Waters surrounding the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges are mostly located in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), with smaller portions located in the national waters of Chile and Peru. Within this region, Chile has already protected all the ridge features that fall within its jurisdiction, and Peru is evaluating a proposal that would protect the seafloor that falls within its national waters. However, all of the ABNJ in the region, which cover over 73% of the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges, are unprotected and under threat from a variety of stressors, including climate change, plastic pollution, overfishing, and potential deep-sea mining in the future. Importantly, fishing and other commercial activities are at low levels in international waters of this region, so there is a time-sensitive opportunity to protect its unique natural and cultural resources before they are degraded. This study provides a synthesis of the relevant science that has been conducted on the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges, and discusses the opportunities and challenges for protecting this unique region via existing sectoral organizations and through the emerging international agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Given its exceptional natural and cultural significance, the Salas y Gómez and Nazca ridges should be comprehensively protected from exploitation, pollution and other anthropogenic threats using the best available conservation measures.

Can the Intermediate Western Boundary Current recirculation trigger the Vitória Eddy formation?

South of the Vitória-Trindade Ridge, a seamount chain off East Brazil, the Brazil Current (BC) meanders cyclonically within Tubarão Bight, occasionally forming the Vitória Eddy. It was recently found that the Intermediate Western Boundary Current (IWBC), which flows equatorward below the BC, cyclonically recirculate within Tubarão Bight. We present an analysis of AVISO observations that suggest that the Vitória Eddy formation is conditioned by the strength of the BC upstream of Tubarão Bight. A weak BC is prone to local meandering and eddy formation in the bight, while a strong BC suppresses eddy formation in the bight but triggers downstream meander growth. To study the effects of the IWBC recirculation on the BC meandering and the Vitória Eddy formation, we formulate a simple two-layer quasi-geostrophic model. In the model, the BC is represented by a meridional jet in the upper layer and the IWBC recirculation is a steady eddy in the lower layer. The lower-layer eddy effectively acts as a topographic bump, affecting the upper-layer jet via the stretching term \(\psi _{2}/{R_{d}^{2}}\), where ψ2 is the lower-layer streamfunction and Rd is the baroclinic deformation radius. Based on the AVISO sea-surface height data and previous observational studies, we define a stationary eddy and reference jet. We conduct a number of initial-value problem experiments varying the upper-layer jet speed. A weak upper-layer jet slowly meanders and develops a cyclone above the lower-layer eddy. As we increase the jet velocity, the meandering is faster and the cyclone is larger. But a too-strong jet has an opposite effect: the potential vorticity anomalies induced by the lower-layer eddy are quickly swept away, leading to explosive downstream meander growth; no cyclone is formed above the lower-layer eddy. In all cases, the initial meandering trigger is a linear process (the steering of the upper-layer jet by the lower-layer eddy). But even when the upper-layer jet is weak, nonlinearity quickly becomes important, dominating the dynamics after 10 days of simulation. The downstream meander growth is fully nonlinear. Our idealized QG model confirms that the IWBC recirculation can trigger the Vitória Eddy formation and elucidates the mechanisms involved in this process.

The western Durkan Complex (Makran Accretionary Prism, SE Iran): A Late Cretaceous tectonically disrupted seamounts chain and its role in controlling deformation style

The Durkan Complex is a key tectonic element of the Makran accretionary prism (SE Iran) and it has been interpreted as representing a continental margin succession. We present here a multidisciplinary study of the western Durkan Complex, which is based on new geological, stratigraphic, biostratigraphic data, as well as geochemical data of the volcanic and meta-volcanic rocks forming this complex. Our data show that this complex consists of distinct tectonic slices showing both non-metamorphic and very low-grade metamorphic deformed successions. Stratigraphic and biostratigraphic data allow us to recognize three types of successions. Type-I is composed by a Coniacian – early Campanian pelagic succession with intercalation of pillow lavas and minor volcaniclastic rocks. Type-II succession includes a volcanic sequence passing to a volcano-sedimentary sequence with Cenomanian pelagic limestones, followed by a hemipelagic sequence. This succession is characterized by abundant mass-transport deposits. Type-III succession includes volcanic and volcano-sedimentary sequences, which are stratigraphically covered by a Cenomanian platform succession. The latter is locally followed by a hemipelagic sequence. The volcanic rocks in the different successions show alkaline geochemical affinity, suggesting an origin from an oceanic within-plate setting. Our new results indicate that the western Durkan Complex represents fragments of seamounts tectonically incorporated in the Makran accretionary wedge during the latest Late Cretaceous–Paleocene. We propose that incorporation of seamounts in the frontal prism caused a shortening of the whole convergent margin and possibly contributed to controlling the deformation style in the Makran Accretionary Wedge during Late Cretaceous–Paleocene times.

Extreme Heterogeneity in Mid‐Ocean Ridge Mantle Revealed in Lavas From the 8°20′N Near‐Axis Seamount Chain

AbstractLavas that have erupted at near‐axis seamounts provide windows into mid‐ocean ridge mantle heterogeneity and melting systematics which are not easily observed on‐axis at fast‐spreading centers. Beneath ridges, most heterogeneity is obscured as magmas aggregate toward the ridge, where they efficiently mix and homogenize during transit and within shallow magma chambers prior to eruption. To understand the deeper magmatic processes contributing to oceanic crustal formation, we examine the compositions of lavas erupted along a chain of near‐axis seamounts and volcanic ridges perpendicular to the East Pacific Rise. We assess the chemistry of near‐ridge mantle using a ∼200 km‐long chain at ∼8°20′N. High‐resolution bathymetric maps are used with geochemical analyses of ∼300 basalts to evaluate the petrogenesis of lavas and the heterogeneity of mantle feeding these near‐axis eruptions. Major and trace element concentrations and radiogenic isotope ratios are highly variable on &lt;1 km scales, and reveal a continuum of depleted, normal, and enriched basalts spanning the full range of ridge and seamount compositions in the northeast Pacific. There is no systematic compositional variability along the chain. Modeling suggests that depleted mid‐ocean ridge basalt (DMORB) lavas are produced by ∼5%–15% melting of a depleted mid‐ocean ridge (MOR) mantle. Normal mid‐ocean ridge basalts (NMORB) form from 5% to 15% melting of a slightly enriched MOR mantle. Enriched mid‐ocean ridge basalts (EMORB) range from &lt;1% melting of 10% enriched mantle to &gt;15% melting of 100% enriched mantle. The presence of all three lava types along the seamount chain, and on a single seamount closest to the ridge axis, confirms that the sub‐ridge mantle is much more heterogeneous than is commonly observed on‐axis and heterogeneity exists over small spatial scales.

Submesoscale Phenomena Due to the Brazil Current Crossing of the Vitória‐Trindade Ridge

AbstractAt 20.5°S, the Brazil Current and the Intermediate Western Boundary Current interact with a quasi‐zonal seamount chain, the Vitória‐Trindade Ridge (VTR). While the mesoscale variability generated due to these western boundary currents crossing the VTR has been recently studied, the submesoscale dynamics associated with such features have never been addressed. Here, we use new observations and a 2‐ km‐resolution model to analyze the role of the VTR seamounts in the regional submesoscale dynamics, their seasonality, and instabilities. We present new high‐resolution velocity and density observations that capture submesoscale features associated with the flow. Within these regions, potential vorticity (PV) reveals patches of symmetrically unstable flow close to seamounts. The horizontal resolution (Δx ≃ 1.5 km) of our quasi‐synoptic observations (10 h) partially resolves submesoscale instabilities. Our Regional Oceanic Modeling System simulation identifies two regimes of submesoscale activity in the region, one typically associated with the seasonal cycle of the mixed layer, and a second associated with flow–topography interactions. A spatiotemporal analysis of the vertical buoyancy fluxes points to these flow–topography interactions as the main source of recurrent, deeper instabilities. As the VTR emerges as a submesoscale hotspot in the oligotrophic South Atlantic, the lack of observations still remains the main obstacle to better understand submesoscale processes in the region.

Rejuvenated extension of the Philippine Sea plate and its effect on subduction dynamics in the Nankai Trough

AbstractThe Nankai Trough, Japan, is a subduction zone characterized by the recurrence of disastrous earthquakes and tsunamis. Slow earthquakes and associated tremor also occur intermittently and locally in the Nankai Trough and the causal relationship between slow earthquakes and large earthquakes is important to understanding subduction zone dynamics. The Nankai Trough off Muroto, Shikoku Island, near the southeast margin of the rupture segment of the 1946 Nankai earthquake, is one of three regions where slow earthquakes and tremor cluster in the Nankai Trough. On the Philippine Sea plate, the rifting of the central domain of the Shikoku Basin was aborted at ~15 Ma and underthrust the Nankai forearc off Muroto. Here, the Tosa‐Bae seamount and other high‐relief features, which are northern extension of the Kinan Seamount chain, have collided with and indented the forearc wedge. In this study, we analyzed seismic reflection profiles around the deformation front of accretionary wedge and stratigraphically correlated them to drilling sites off Muroto. Our results show that the previously aborted horst‐and‐graben structures, which were formed around the spreading center of the Shikoku Basin at ~15 Ma, were rejuvenated locally at ~6 Ma and more regionally at ~3.3 Ma and have remained active since. The reactivated normal faulting has enhanced seafloor roughness and appears to affect the locations of slow earthquakes and tremors. Rejuvenated normal faulting is not limited to areas near the Nankai Trough, and extends more than 200 km into the Shikoku Basin to the south. This extension might be due to extensional forces applied to the Philippine Sea plate, which appear to be driven by slab‐pull in the Ryukyu and Philippine trenches along the western margin of the Philippine Sea plate.

Martin Vaz island geochronology: Constraint on the Trindade Mantle Plume track from the youngest and easternmost volcanic episodes

The oceanic basins are dotted by seamounts, guyots and islands formed by the mantle plumes and oceanic lithosphere interaction. These plumes are responsible for several intraplate volcanisms such as the Emperor-Hawaii Chain in the Pacific Ocean with a remarkable bend at ca. 47 Ma. Comparatively, the Vitória-Trindade Ridge (VTR) in the South Atlantic Ocean was also generated by a mantle plume and in response to the lithosphere interaction and tectonic settings it shows three remarkable bends through time. One occurred after 85 Ma associated with the Trindade plume tail movement under the Archean São Francisco Craton, and another one ca. 52 Ma after the formation of the Abrolhos Bank in the Brazilian platform (Mohriak, 1989; Thompson et al., 1998) when the Trindade Plume encountered a thinner lithosphere in the Brazilian coast and formed a chain of seamounts and islands of W-E direction. The last bend marked in the Trindade plume trajectory is ca. 20°00′lat, around Davis Bank, marking a Miocene (21.07 Ma - 40Ar/39Ar whole-rock method) subtle clockwise rotation in the South American Plate. The easternmost part of this ridge is composed of Trindade-Martin Vaz Archipelago subject of this study. Located ca. 1200 km away from the Brazilian coastline at the Vitória (ES) parallel, its geology is an important preserved record of an alkaline Pliocene-Pleistocene volcanism, the youngest one recorded in the Brazilian territory. Martin Vaz and the nearby islets are located on the easternmost part of the VTR. Its geological features include phono-tephritic to tephri-phonolitic domes; nosean-phonolitic dykes and sub-horizontal layers formed by pyroclastic rocks and subordinate lava flows (melanephelinites) of Volcanian-style magmatism (mostly). 40Ar/39Ar ages yielded values ranging from 336 to 721 ka representing a young and short period of intraplate magmatic activity in the South American Plate offshore. These new ages associated with compiled radioisotopic ages from onshore and offshore volcanic rocks represent a strong decreasing age correlation related to Trindade Mantle Plume. Moreover, Trindade-Martin Vaz Archipelago is a contemporaneous product of a terminal plume expression in the offshore portion of a long-lived track (ca. 90 Ma) with a slow shear velocity (VS) placing its origin at the Upper Mantle suggesting a shallow mantle plume rising from the asthenosphere.

Finding the Emperor's head

Geophysics Volcanic island and seamount chains form from deep-seated plumes of hot material upwelling through the mantle. The most famous of these is the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain. However, a large volcanic structure associated with a plume head that should precede the chain has long been missing. Wei et al. finally identified the likely location of this structure in the mantle under eastern Russia. The structure was likely subducted 20 million to 30 million years ago, and the location helps constrain several geodynamic processes. Science , this issue p. [983][1] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abd0312

Oceanic plateau of the Hawaiian mantle plume head subducted to the uppermost lower mantle.

The Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain that includes the Hawaiian volcanoes was created by the Hawaiian mantle plume. Although the mantle plume hypothesis predicts an oceanic plateau produced by massive decompression melting during the initiation stage of the Hawaiian hot spot, the fate of this plateau is unclear. We discovered a megameter-scale portion of thickened oceanic crust in the uppermost lower mantle west of the Sea of Okhotsk by stacking seismic waveforms of SS precursors. We propose that this thick crust represents a major part of the oceanic plateau that was created by the Hawaiian plume head ~100 million years ago and subducted 20 million to 30 million years ago. Our discovery provides temporal and spatial clues of the early history of the Hawaiian plume for future plate reconstructions.

The Turbulent Structure of the Azores Current System: A Statistical Analysis

AbstractTwenty‐five years of satellite altimetry Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) and SLA‐derived eddy trajectories are used for a thorough characterization of the Azores Current (AzC) eddies' kinematic properties (i.e., amplitude, radius, and swirl velocity) and evolution above the Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and the Seewarte seamount chain (around 28°W). Changes in the mean flow kinetic energy and eddy kinetic energy (EKE) along the AzC main axis (around 34.2°N) allow to divide its zonal structure into three sectors: The western one, between the MAR and 28°W, the central, until 24°W and the eastern, between 24°W and 20°W. A clear intensification of the western sector is visible in both distribution maps, as well in the median, Skewness, and Kurtosis of the SLA field. Two main patterns of the SLA turbulent field also emerge from the statistical analysis: a meridional asymmetry around the current mean axis and a zonal one. The kinematic properties of the detected eddies clearly demonstrate that cyclones are more intense and non‐linear than anticyclones, mainly in the western region, exhibiting higher values of EKE. High amplitude cyclones reported in several papers of the area (with a time‐mean amplitude above 16 cm) are rarities, with only six cyclones detected in the 25 years of data.

Forearc structures and deformation along the Manila Trench

The Manila Trench subduction zone is characterized by varying tectonic structures from north to south. Analyses of new seismic reflection data and bathymetric data indicate distinct morphological and deformational patterns in the forearc region. Differences in the nature of the subducting oceanic lithosphere (i.e. seafloor relief related to seamounts and ridges, sediment supply, reactivated features and faults associated with the South China Sea opening) cause along-strike heterogeneity in the Manila Trench and the Luzon forearc region. The northern segment is classified as an accretionary margin while the southern segment is mainly an erosive margin (with a narrow, steep, and often eroded frontal wedge). This sharp contrast is attributed to abundant sediment supply to the trench in the north and to the highly eroded frontal wedge in the south due to scarce sediment supply. The southern trench segment is prone to submarine slope failures and mass wasting processes. The 17°N latitude boundary also separates the forearc basin into the North Luzon Trough and the West Luzon Trough. Associated with this is the initiation of the Scarborough Seamount Chain (South China Sea extinct spreading ridge) subduction at 16°N latitude. A combination of forearc uplift and submarine mass movements attributed to subduction of bathymetric highs near and south of 17°N latitude produced the Stewart Bank. Seamount and other seafloor spreading features induced complex responses arising to diverse forearc architectures in the southern segment. Seamounts and other seafloor spreading-related features in the subducting slab induce slope steepening and significant vertical movement in the frontal wedge and the forearc region, respectively. Deformation associated with the subduction is overprinted by shearing related to the Philippine Fault Zone splay faults with the frontal wedge shortening associated with the ongoing subduction, further complicating the forearc development in the trench and marine forearc region.

Recent fishing footprint of the high-seas bottom trawl fisheries on the Northwestern Hawaiian Ridge and Emperor Seamount Chain: A finer-scale approach to a large-scale issue

A standing data gap for management of high-seas seamounts of the Northwestern Hawaiian Ridge and Emperor Seamounts (ES-NHR) by the North Pacific Fisheries Commission is the footprint of fisheries activities on these seamounts. Using satellite AIS data and the algorithms of the publicly available Global Fishing Watch database, a spatial map of trawling in a 0.01-degree latitude by 0.01-degree longitude square grid was created to review the data available to map this footprint. From 2012 to 2018 much of the trawling effort for all countries focused on Koko, Yuryaku, Kammu, and Colahan Seamounts at depths between 400 m (summits) and the depth limit currently set by the North Pacific Fisheries Commission of 1500 m. Additional seamounts with fishing activity included Annei (North Koko), Kinmei, Jingu, and Suiko. The remaining ES-NHR seamount locations show no trawling in those years. Bottom contact fishing was predominately carried out by ships with flag states of Japan and Korea. To date there appears to be compliance with the recent small-scale closures on C–H seamount and Koko.An additional source of data comes from scientific Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) surveys in 2014 and 2015 from three of these seamounts, in which scars from bottom contact gear are readily visible. These cover a smaller spatial area and depth range than the satellite data, but indicate the full footprint is not encompassed by the satellite data, suggesting either the fishing footprint is not fully captured by the AIS approach or that the footprint has shifted through time. AUV surveys also provide data on areas where abundant megafauna occur, which can provide candidate starting points for VME management efforts and further closures, similar to ones already in effect in the ES-NHR. The combination of satellite and AUV data provide a finer-scale fisheries footprint for this region that can aid in management of these sites.