Article
 

Observational and theoretical studies of the dynamics of mantle plume-mid-ocean ridge interaction

Public Deposited

Contenu téléchargeable

Télécharger le fichier PDF
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/3197xn80k

Descriptions

Attribute NameValues
Creator
Abstract
  • Hot spot–mid-ocean ridge interactions cause many of the largest structural and chemical anomalies in Earth’s ocean basins. Correlated geophysical and geochemical anomalies are widely explained by mantle plumes that deliver hot and compositionally distinct material toward and along mid-ocean ridges. Compositional anomalies are seen in trace element and isotope ratios, while elevated mantle temperatures are suggested by anomalously thick crust, low-density mantle, low mantle seismic velocities, and elevated degrees and pressures of melting. Several geodynamic laboratory and modeling studies predict that the width over which plumes expand along the ridge axis increases with plume flux and excess buoyancy and decreases with plate spreading rate, plume viscosity, and plume-ridge separation. Key aspects of the theoretical predictions are supported by observations at several prominent hot spot–ridge systems. Still, many basic aspects of plume-ridge interaction remain enigmatic. Outstanding problems pertain to whether plumes flow toward and along mid-ocean ridges in narrow pipe-like channels or as broad expanding gravity currents, the origin of geochemical mixing trends observed along ridges, and how mantle plumes alter the geometry of the mid-ocean ridge plate boundary, as well as the origin of other ridge axis anomalies not obviously related to mantle plumes.
  • Keywords: mantle convection, hot spot, MORB, OIB, mid-ocean ridge, mantle plume
Resource Type
DOI
Date Available
Date Issued
Citation
  • Ito , G., J. Lin, and D. Graham (2003), Observational and theoretical studies of the dynamics of mantle plume–mid-ocean ridge interaction, Rev. Geophys., 41, 1017.
Journal Title
Journal Volume
  • 41
Déclaration de droits
Publisher
Language
Replaces

Des relations

Parents:

This work has no parents.

Articles

La vignette Titre Date de téléchargement Visibilité actes
file details Ito_et_al_Review_Geophysics_2003.pdf 2017-07-24 Public Télécharger