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Segmentation of mid-ocean ridges

Nature volume 317, pages 225–229 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

Studies of mid-ocean ridges in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans show that the volcanism that forms the oceanic crust along the spreading-plate boundaries is concentrated at regular intervals related to spreading rate. This observation and a new calculation for a Rayleigh–Taylor type of gravitational instability of a partially molten mantle region growing under spreading centres yield reasonable estimates of upper mantle viscosities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA

    Hans Schouten & John A. Whitehead

  2. US Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA

    Kim D. Klitgord

Authors
  1. Hans Schouten
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  2. Kim D. Klitgord
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  3. John A. Whitehead
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Schouten, H., Klitgord, K. & Whitehead, J. Segmentation of mid-ocean ridges. Nature 317, 225–229 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/317225a0

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