| Publications | | » | 41. R2K Advances in Seismic Imaging Oceanography, 2012
 | | » | 40. R2K Seismic Studies Oceanography, 2012
 | | » | 39. Melt bodies off the EPR Nature Geoscience, 2012
 | | » | 38. JdF Plate: Gravity structure G-cubed, 2011
 | | » | 37. JdF Plate: Layer 2B structure G-cubed, 2011
 | | » | 36. Kane waveform tomography GRL, 2010
 | | » | 35. Kane Oceanic Core Complex G-cubed, 2009
 | | » | 34. Geophysical signatures of oceanic core complexes GJI, 2009
 | | » | 33. Accretion of the lower crust Nature, 2009
 | | » | 32. Faulting of the Juan de Fuca plate EPSL, 2009
 | | » | 31. Axial topography os the Galapagos Spreading Center G-cubed, 2008
 | | » | 30. Juan de Fuca Ridge flanks G-cubed, 2008
 | | » | 29. Seismic structure of oceanic core complexes G-cubed, 2008
 | | » | 28. Juan de Fuca Ridge: structure and hotspots G-cubed, 2008
 | | » | 27. Structure of the TAG segment, Mid-Atlantic Ridge G-cubed, 2007
 | | » | 26. Detachment faulting at TAG, Mid-Atlantic Ridge Geology, 2007
 | | » | 25. Structure of the Endeavour segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge JGR, 2007
 | | » | 24. Magma beneath Lucky Strike Hydrothermal Field Nature, 2006
 | | » | 23. Magma chamber of the Cleft segment, Juan de Fuca Ridge EPSL, 2006
 | | » | 22. Topography and magmatism at the Juan de Fuca Ridge Geology, 2006
 | | » | 21. Structure of the southern Juan de Fuca Ridge JGR, 2005
 | | » | 20. Sub-crustal magma lenses Nature, 2005
 | | » | 19. Constructing the crust at the Galapagos Spreading Center JGR, 2004
 | | » | 18. Atlantis core complex EPSL, 2004
 | | » | 17. Morphology of the Galapagos Spreading Center G-cubed, 2003
 | | » | 16. Crustal structure of the East Pacific Rise GJI, 2003
 | | » | 15. Plume-ridge interaction along the Galapagos Spreading Center G-cubed, 2002
 | | » | 14. Compensation of the Galapagos swellEPSL, 2002
 | | » | 13. Structure of Tenerife, Canary Islands JVGR, 2000
 | | » | 12. Underplating in the Canary Islands JVGR, 2000
 | | » | 11. Structure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MARK, 23?20'N) JGR, 2000
 | | » | 10. Structure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (35?N) JGR, 2000
 | | » | 9. Structure of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands J. Geodyn., 1999
 | | » | 8. Structure of overlapping spreading centers in the MELT area GRL, 1998
 | | » | 7. Crustal thickness in the MELT area Science, 1998
 | | » | 6. The MELT experiment Science, 1998
 | | » | 5. The Canary Islands swell GJI, 1998
 | | » | 4. Morphology of the Galapagos Spreading Center JGR, 1997
 | | » | 3. Faulting of slow-spreading oceanic crust Geology, 1997
 | | » | 2. Flexure beneath Tenerife, Canary Islands EPSL, 1997
 | | » | 1. Elastic thickness in the Canary Islands GRL, 1994
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Newman, K.R., M. R. Nedimović, J.P. Canales, and S. M. Carbotte, Evolution of seismic layer 2B across the Juan de Fuca Ridge from hydrophone streamer 2D traveltime tomography, Geochem., Geophys., Geosyst., 12, Q05009, 2011
How oceanic crust evolves has important implications for understanding both subduction earthquake hazards and energy and mass exchange between the Earth’s interior and the oceans. Although considerable work has been done characterizing the evolution of seismic layer 2A, there has been little analysis of the processes that affect layer 2B after formation. Here we present high‐resolution 2‐D tomographic models of seismic layer 2B along ∼300 km long multichannel seismic transects crossing the Endeavour, Northern Symmetric, and Cleft segments of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. These models show that seismic layer 2B evolves rapidly following a different course than layer 2A. The upper layer 2B velocities increase on average by 0.8 km/s and reach a generally constant velocity of 5.2 ± 0.3 km/s within the first 0.5 Myr after crustal formation. This suggests that the strongest impact on layer 2B evolution may be that of mineral precipitation due to “active” hydrothermal circulation centered about the ridge crest and driven by the heat from the axial magma chamber. Variations in upper layer 2B velocity with age at time scales ≥0.5 Ma show correlation about the ridge axis indicating that in the long term, crustal accretion processes affect both sides of the ridge axis in a similar way. Below the 0.5 Ma threshold, differences in 2B velocity are likely imprinted during crustal formation or early crustal evolution. Layer 2B velocities at propagator wakes (5.0 ± 0.2 km/s), where enhanced faulting and cracking are expected, and at areas that coincide with extensional or transtensional faulting are on average slightly slower than in normal mature upper layer 2B. Analysis of the layer 2B velocities from areas where the hydrothermal patterns are known shows that the locations of current and paleohydrothermal discharge and recharge zones are marked by reduced and increased upper layer 2B velocities, respectively. Additionally, the distance between present up‐flow and down‐flow zones is related to the amount of sediment cover because, as sediment cover increases and basement outcrops become covered, direct pathways from the igneous basement through the seafloor are cut off, forcing convective cells to find alternate paths.
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