Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 1980. / Vita. Contract no.: N00014-76-C-0197, NR 083-400. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-158).

Ultra-slow spreading ridges have a full spreading rate of less than 20 mm/yr, and show deviations from the fundamental characteristics identified at faster spreading rates; however, they are poorly studied compared to faster spreading ridges. In this thesis we aim to build on previous studies in order to further characterise the unique processes occurring at the ultra-slow spreading Southwest Indian ridge (SWIR). This is an exploratory study utilising novel and existing bathymetry, gravity, video imagery data to understand tectonic and volcanic processes along the ridge crest from triple junction to triple junction. We conduct a series of studies which focus on the axial valley morphology, large seamount morphology, the distribution of small seamounts and large seamounts on the ridge, and admittance studies. We show that the long wavelength trends in geophysical data, geochemical data, and axial valley morphology are well correlated. These variations reflect along-axis changes in the crustal and mantle structure, governed by the thermal structure of the ridge. Seamounts provide important morphological evidence of the volcanic and tectonic processes beneath the Earth's surface. We use detailed morphological investigations to show that volcanic and erosional processes on six large seamounts are controlled by the local faulting and melt migration mechanisms. We investigate the distribution of seamounts on the ridge using a numerical algorithm, and demonstrate a lower seamount density than faster spreading ridges. We show that the seamount population statistics vary along the ridge due to changes in the degree of partial melting, magma conduit availability, and melt focussing mechanisms; the locations of three proximal hotspots coincide with increases in the estimated magmatic flux. Finally, best fit elastic thicknesses are determined using a 3D windowed admittance technique, which was tested using synthetic data. We construct a combined convection-flexure model to account for misfits between the observed data and existing flexural theoretical models. The average elastic thickness varies between 7 km and 12 km, and we show a strong dependence on spreading rate.

During 1979, an oil prospecting project was initiated in the south of Sweden, outside the coast of the municipality of Skåne. No drilling program was initiated, and the project was put on ice. However, with the oil prices of today and the interest in carbon dioxide storage, the area could once again be interesting. In this thesis, 3 seismic lines have been reprocessed with new software, Claritas, in an attempt to obtain information of the area. The thesis is also thought of as an easy to read tutorial as to how oil prospecting works. The result of the reprocessing showed that the new software could reduce multiples and high- and low frequency noise with an fx-decon filter. / Under 1979 inleddes ett projekt med oljeprospektering utanför Skånes kust i södra Sverige. Inget borrprogram initierades och projektet lades ned. Med dagens oljebrist och intresset för koldioxidförvaring så skulle området än en gång kunna vara intressant. I detta examensarbete har därför 3 seismiklinjer omprocesserats med ny programvara, Claritas, i ett försök att förbättra vår bild av detta område. Examensarbetet är även tänkt att fungera som en inledande litteratur om hur oljeprospektering fungerar. Resultatet av omprocesseringen av seismikdatat visade att man med den nya programvaran kunde reducera multipler och hög- och lågfrekvent brus med ett fx-decon filter.

Three-dimensional gravity analysis is the process of removing the predictable components from the free-air gravity anomalies and has proven to be useful for interpreting the subsurface structures and active processes at mid-ocean ridges. The three-dimensional effects of the seafloor and Moho topography, assuming a constant crustal thickness and constant crust and upper mantle densities, are subtracted from the free-air anomalies, yielding the mantle Bouguer anomalies. Mantle Bouguer anomalies at mid-ocean ridges are believed to be largely due to the three-dimensional thermal structure, which can be predicted using a simple passive flow model. When the gravity contribution from the predicted thermal structure is removed from the mantle Bouguer anomalies, the residual mantle Bouguer anomalies are created, which represent lateral variations in the crustal thickness and/or density variations from the assumed model. Three-dimensional gravity analysis has been carried out over three areas along the Pacific-Antarctic East Pacific Rise (EPR): (1) the eastern intersection of the Menard transform with the EPR, (2) the overlapping spreading center (OSC) at 36.5°S and, (3) the western intersection of the Raitt transform with the EPR. This geophysical analysis provides an essential tool for understanding the subsurface crustal/upper mantle structure of the fast spreading EPR, and more specifically at transform and nontransform offsets along the EPR. Several interesting features were observed at the eastern intersection between the Menard transform and the EPR. The continuous nature of the residual mantle Bouguer anomalies along the ridge axis suggests that the 60 km of ridge axis surveyed here has a fairly uniform crustal/upper mantle structure. Significant features are not observed in the residual mantle Bouguer anomalies at the ridge-transform intersection or along the eastern 75 km of the Menard transform. At the ridge-transform intersection, fresh lavas from the observed overshot ridge have filled in the transform valley and have subsequently thickened the crust, eliminating any crustal thinning that is occurring there. The large OSC at 36.5°S has a left-stepping offset of approximately 34 km. The most significant feature in the gravity data from this study area is the observed low in the mantle Bouguer anomalies which extends from the northern ridge segment, eastward to the "inactive" rift and continued along the southern ridge segment. This gravity low suggests that this region is underlain by thicker crust and/or hotter, less dense material. No significant features are observed in the residual mantle Bouguer anomalies associated with the overlap basin or the two smaller basins that border the "inactive" rift. The western ridge-transform intersection (RTI) between the Raitt transform and the EPR significantly differs from the Menard transform study area. A transform valley is not observed at this RYE and neither is an overshot ridge. Instead, a transformparallel median ridge is observed east of the RTI, and a fossil transform valley is observed north of the RTI. A low in the residual mantle Bouguer anomalies is associated with the fossil transform valley and the median ridge, suggesting that these areas are underlain by thicker crust and/or less dense material. Positive residual mantle Bouguer anomalies observed at the inside corner of the RYE suggest that this area is underlain by thinner crust and/or colder, more dense material; while at the outside corner of the ridge-transform intersection, a residual anomaly low is observed which suggests that the outside corner is underlain with thicker crust and/or hotter, less dense material. / Graduation date: 1995 / Figures in original document are black and white photocopies. Best scan available.

Η αλλαγή στην στάθμη της θάλασσας καθώς και καταστροφικά φαινόμενα που έχουν συμβεί τα τελευταία 10.000 χρόνια έχουν οδηγήσει στην καταβύθιση αρχαίων λιμενικών εγκαταστάσεων. Μέρος των εγκαταστάσεων των αρχαίων λιμένων Ζέας και Μουνιχίας βρίσκονται σήμερα κάτω από το επίπεδο της θάλασσας. Για την μελέτη αυτών, είναι απαραίτητη η χρήση σύγχρονων συστημάτων θαλάσσιας γεωφυσικής διασκόπισης με σκοπό: (α) την κατασκευή λεπτομερούς βυθομετρικής αποτύπωσης στους αρχαίους λιμένες Ζέας και Μουνιχίας καθώς και των παράκτιων περιοχών πλησίον τους, (β) την μελέτη της στρωματογραφίας της ακολουθίας ιζημάτων (γ) τον προσδιορισμό της παλαιογεωγραφικής εξέλιξης της περιοχής Ζέας – Μουνιχίας και (δ) τον εντοπισμό στόχων, επιφανειακών και υποεπιφανειακών με πιθανό αρχαιολογικό ενδιαφέρον. Οι θαλάσσιες γεωφυσικές έρευνες πραγματοποιήθηκαν τον Νοέμβριο του 2011 από το Ε.ΘΑ.ΓΕ.Φ.Ω σε συνεργασία με το Danish Institute και το Zea Project. Στην παρούσα διπλωματική αναλύθηκαν και επεξεργάστηκαν τα γεωφυσικά δεδομένα που συλλέχθηκαν με τομογράφο υποδομής πυθμένα 3.5 kHz, ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης (EG&G 272 TD) καθώς και βυθόμετρο (Elac Nautic Hydrostat). Η μελέτη στης σεισμοστρωματογραφίας με τομογράφο υποδομής πυθμένα έδειξε τρεις σεισμικές ιζητογενείς ακολουθίες για κάθε έναν από τους αρχαίους λιμένες και οδήγησε στην κατασκευή χάρτη ισοπαχών. Οι τρείς ακολουθίες πιθανώς σχετίζονται με διαφορετικές χρονικές περιόδους των λιμένων. Τα δεδομένα του ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης εντόπισαν περιοχές του πυθμένα των λιμένων που πιθανώς σχετίζονται με αρχαίες κατασκευές. Επιπλέον από τα δεδομένα του ηχοβολιστή πλευρικής σάρωσης προέκυψαν χάρτες μορφολογικής αποτύπωσης του πυθμένα καθώς και στόχοι με πιθανό αρχαιολογικό ενδιαφέρον. Συγκεκριμένα εντοπίστηκε ένας μεγάλος αριθμός στόχων που χαρακτηρίζονται από εύρος τιμών όσον αφορά στις γεωμετρικές παραμέτρους και στις παραμέτρους ανακλαστικότητας. Το λογισμικό TargAn εφαρμόσθηκε για την παραμετροποίηση όλων των στόχων ενώ επιπλέον εφαρμόσθηκαν στατιστικές τεχνικές πολυδιάστατης ανάλυσης για την ταξινόμηση των στόχων σε ομάδες με βάση την αρχαιολογική τους σπουδαιότητα. / Sea level change and catastrophic events that have occurred in the last 10.000 years have led to the submergence of ancient harbors and facilities. Parts of the facilities of Zea and Mounichia ancient harbors are now below sea level. This research was carried out with use of marine geophysical methods in order to: (a) map with detail the bathymetry of the two harbors and the near shore area, (b) map the seismic stratigraphy of the area, (c) determine the palaeogeographical evolution of the area and (d) to identify targets with possible archaeological interest. Marine geophysical survey took place in October 2011 by Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography in collaboration with the Danish Institute and Zea Harbour Project. Subbuttom profiler, side-scan sonar and echosounder were used. The processing and analysis of the subbuttom profiler data revealed three distinctive acoustic units for each of the ancient harbours and led to a detailed map of isopachs. Those three different units can be related to the two different faces of the harbor. The side-scan sonar data identified areas of the harbors that are related to ancient structures and facilities. From the same data set 65 targets were detected and analyzed with the use of TargAn software in order to classify them based on their archaeological valuation.

This thesis is focused on studies of glacial and slope morphology in the high Arctic of western Greenland shelf and the Molloy Hole seafloor spreading area, based on high-resolution acoustic methods and other geophysical data. The main purpose is to improve our understanding of glacial dynamics and associated processes in the marginal region of a large marine-terminating ice sheet. Newly acquired data, together with existing datasets have been compiled to create bathymetric models, which were used to study the seafloor landscape and its preserved record of glacial and sedimentary processes. The new bathymetric models were used with novel processing tools combined with seismic profiles, sub-bottom profiles and overlays of geological- and gravimetric maps to describe the observed landforms and interpret causal relationships. The main conclusions are: 1)   The underlying geology is an important control on the cross-shelf trough (CST) dimensions in western Greenland. This is likely due to the influence of underlying geology to the frictional resistance of the ice flow over the basement rock. Our observations show that ice streaming in areas with basaltic bed-types cause minimal over-deepening of the main trunk of the trough, which also has weaker lateral boundaries allowing the ice stream to shift flow direction more easily. CSTs on the Cenozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary basins indicate a stronger eroding and more focused paleo-ice streams. 2)   Bedrock lithology has an important part in controlling the location of the head-to-trough transition in CSTs of western Greenland. The areas where the head’s network of channels converges to form the main trunk of the trough are mostly located on the boundary from crystalline to sedimentary bedrock. These areas are also marked by distinct over-deepenings. 3)   Preglacial conditions such as faults/fractures and lithological properties of the basement rocks in western Greenland served as an important control on the erosional potential of the glacial processes, particularly on a local scale. Faults and fractures have led to the topographic steering of the ice flow that causes further excavation and erosion of the bed, while uneven erosion patterns, based on differences in glacial morphological features, is observed between areas of adjacent bedrocks with different lithology. 4)   The occurrence of trough mouth fans is suggested to be controlled mainly by the shelf width, which governs the glacial flow length along available sediment sources. It is also controlled by the continental slope steepness, which may be too steep for sediment fans to accumulate, or may cause slope failure which eventually transports the sediments to the deep basin. 5)   The maximum ice extent in west Greenland extended towards the shelf edge. Geomorphological evidence of ice margin standstills and slow retreat (grounding zone wedges and transverse moraines) in some areas reveal a multi-stage deglaciation process. 6)   The view of a highly dynamic paleo-Greenland ice sheet is supported by the presence of a large number of CSTs which hosted ice streams, and evidence of ice stream flow-switching throughout one or several glaciations. 7)   The influence of glacial sedimentary processes extends into the deepest areas of the Arctic Ocean. A submarine landslide, here termed the Molloy Slide, has been described in the Molloy Hole in the Davis Strait between Greenland and Svalbard. This slide was likely caused by massive glacial sediment deposition along the west Svalbard margin. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Manuscript. Paper 2: Manuscript.</p>

A investigação da Terra através da gravimetria implica um grande número de informações sobre o seu interior em diferentes escalas de observação. O presente estudo considerou pesquisas anteriormente realizadas na área da Zona de Fratura São Paulo (ZFSP) e Arquipélago São Pedro e São Paulo (ASPSP), no Oceano Atlântico Equatorial, cujos dados geoquímicos e petrológicos apontam a presença de uma anomalia térmica. Nesta área alguns levantamentos geofísicos já foram realizados, mas nada que contribuísse de forma significativa através de dados gravimétricos. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é a caracterização gravimétrica da Zona de Fratura São Paulo através de dados de gravidade, anomalia ar livre, anomalia bouguer, tensor gradiente da gravidade e altura geoidal residual. Como objetivo secundário, procurou-se a expressão desta anomalia térmica no campo geopotencial. Entretanto, os resultados obtidos indicam que o efeito da batimetria sobre este dados deve ser levado em consideração. Uma vez que área de estudo está localizada na porção equatorial da dorsal mesoatlântica e o processo de compensação isostática nesta área está influenciando os valores da gravidade no local. Sendo, portanto, necessária a confluência de outros métodos geofísicos para detectar a expressão desta anomalia térmica. / The investigation of the Earth by gravity implies a lot of information about the interior at different scales of observation. This study considered research previously conducted in the area of St. Paul Fracture Zone (ZFSP) Archipelago and St Peter and St Paul (ASPSP), the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean, whose petrological and geochemical data indicate the presence of a thermal anomaly. In this area some geophysical surveys have been conducted, but nothing that would contribute significantly by gravity data. The main objective of this work is the characterization of gravimetric St. Paul Fracture Zone by gravity data, free air anomaly, Bouguer anomaly, the gravity gradient tensor and residual geoid height. As a secondary objective, have sought the expression of this thermal anomaly in the field geopotential. However, the results indicate that the effect of bathymetry on this data should be taken into consideration. Since the study area is located in the equatorial portion of the mid-ridge atlantic and the process of isostatic compensation in this area is influencing the gravity values at the site. Therefore required the confluence of other geophysical methods to detect the expression of this thermal anomaly.

A Baía de Sepetiba, localizada entre a Baía de Guanabara e a Baía de Ilha Grande, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, está inserida em um cenário estratégico para o desenvolvimento econômico do Estado. Isto ocorre devido ao aumento da concentração populacional, que está diretamente relacionado com o turismo, com a presença de portos e de áreas industriais. Sendo assim, se faz necessário estudar sua estrutura geológica e dinâmica sedimentar para entender sua evolução ao longo do tempo e para uma utilização mais racional desta área. Utilizando-se da sísmica rasa de alta resolução e da sonografia de varredura lateral juntamente com dados pretéritos de amostragem superficial de sedimentos, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar sua geologia holocênica. A investigação, em subsuperfície, da geologia estrutural e sedimentar dessa baía, através da interpretação de 09 perfis sísmicos, baseada na determinação de diferentes tipos de ecotexturas, revelou a presença de diferentes pacotes sedimentares depositados ao longo do Holoceno. Ao todo, foram encontrados 15 tipos de ecotexturas perfazendo 14 camadas sedimentares, que estão relacionados em 4 Grupos de acordo com sua distribuição. Já a investigação em superfície através dos registros sonográficos, baseada nos diferentes graus de reflexão acústica (backscattering) e parametrizada pelos dados de amostragem direta pretérita, identificou 6 padrões sonográficos distintos. Com isso foi confeccionado um novo mapa de distribuição textural dos sedimentos superficiais da Baía de Sepetiba. Com a correlação dos dados de sísmica rasa com os dados sonográficos, foi possível ainda sugerir a provável existência de neotectonismo na área de estudo. / The Sepetiba Bay, located between the Guanabara Bay and the Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, is part of a strategic scenario for the economic development of the State. This is due to increased population density, which is directly related to tourism, with the presence of ports and industrial areas. Therefore, it is necessary to study its geological structure and sediment dynamics to understand its evolution over time and to a more rational use of this area. By using high resolution seismics and side scan sonar data, this study aims to investigate the holocenic geology. The subsurface investigation of its structural and sedimentary geology, by interpretation of seismic profiles, were based in the determination of the seismic facies, along the Holocene. It was found 15 seismic facies premaking 14 sedimentaries layers that were separated in 4 Groups according to their distribution. The research with the side scan sonar, was based on the different degrees of acoustic backscattering and was parameterized by data from direct sampling. It was identified six distinct sonar patterns . Thus a new textural map of the distribution of surface sediments was made. With the correlation of seismic profiles and side scan sonar data it is possible to map a shallow fault that suggests the existence of a possible neotectonism in the study area.

Le département de la Vendée est classé en zone de risque sismique niveau 3, en raison d’une activité sismique continue et d’une sismicité historique de forte intensité avec l’évènement majeur du 25 janvier 1799 (M6) dans le Marais Breton. Ce séisme a provoqué des dégâts massifs localement à Bouin et dans la région nantaise, et a été largement ressenti dans l’Ouest de la France. La Vendée littorale est située sur la côte atlantique française au sud du cisaillement sud-armoricain. Elle est caractérisée par de nombreuses structures héritées d’origine varisque et d’orientation NW-SE, réactivées au Mésozoïque et au Cénozoïque délimitant des marais côtiers holocènes. L’enjeu de cette thèse est de caractériser la géométrie des éventuelles failles plio-quaternaires et potentiellement actives dans cette région, en s’intéressant particulièrement à la faille de Machecoul, bordière des bassins sédimentaires du Marais Breton et de la Baie de Bourgneuf et candidate potentielle pour le séisme Vendéen de 1799. Notre approche est pluridisciplinaire terre-mer, intégrant sismologie (réseau temporaire), géophysique marine (sismique réflexion Chirp et Sparker, bathymétrie haute résolution), morpho-tectonique, gravimétrie, étude de forages et sismicité historique. Notre étude a permis d’analyser et de caractériser (1) la structure et la géométrie en profondeur du système de failles normales de Machecoul, (2) la localisation des dépocentres plioquaternaires du Marais Breton et de la Baie de Bourgneuf en relation avec le système de failles de Machecoul, atteignant localement une vingtaine de mètres d’épaisseur, (3) la perturbation du réseau hydrographique et l’incision récente du relief du compartiment inférieur de la faille de Machecoul, probablement d’âge pliocène, ainsi que (4) l’activité microsismique de la faille de Machecoul. Nos données suggèrent que la sédimentation plioquaternaire des bassins en mer comme à terre au sud de la faille de Machecoul a pu être contrôlée par cette faille probablement héritée de l’Eocène. Ce travail confirme l’intérêt multi-disciplinaire de l’étude des failles en domaine de déformation faible et apporte un faisceau d’indices permettant de relier la faille de Machecoul à la rupture du séisme Vendéen de 1799 (M6), évènement historique de référence dans l’Ouest de la France de par son ampleur, et par là même de ses conséquences dans une zone littorale de plus en plus peuplée. / The Vendée department is classified as a level 3 seismic risk zone because of a moderate background seismic activity and a strong historical seismicity dominated by the 1799 January 25th (M6) major event in the MaraisBreton. This earthquake caused local massive damages in Bouin and around Nantes, and its perception area stretched widely in the West of France. Coastal Vendée is located on the French Atlantic coast, south of the SouthArmorican Shear Zone. This area is made of numerous NW-SE trending hercynian inherited structures, reactivated during Mesozoic and Cenozoic times and delimiting holocene coastal marschlands. The main goal of this thesis is to characterize the geometry of potential plio-quaternary active faults in the area by focusing on the Machecoul fault, bounding the Marais Breton and the Baie de Bourgneuf sedimentary basins and potential candidate for the 1799 earthquake. We used a multidisciplinary onshore-offshore approach, including seismology (temporary network), marine geophysics (Chirp and Sparker seismic reflexion, high resolution bathymetry), morphotectonic, gravity, onshore drilling database and historical seismicity.Our results allowed us to analyze and characterize (1) the Machecoul normal faults system structure and geometry in depth, (2) the plio-quaternary depocenters location in Marais Breton and Baie de Bourgneuf in relation with the Machecoul fault system, reaching locally around twenty meters thick, (3) the hydrographic network perturbation and recent incision of the Machecoul fault footwall, probably pliocene aged relief, (4) the microseismic activity of the Machecoul fault. Our data suggest that the plioquaternary sedimentation of the marine and terrestrial basins located in the south of the fault could be controlled by this inherited fault, probably dated from Eocene age.This work confirms the importance of multi-disciplinary approach in the study of faults in low deformation context and provides a body of evidence allowing to connect the Machecoul fault to the rupture of the 1799 Vendée earthquake (M6), historic and reference event in the western part of France given its scale and so its consequences in the more and more densely populated coastal area.

Geophysical surveys in the Gulf of California provided the data to construct contour maps of bathymetry, free-air anomalies and total field magnetic anomalies for the area north of 27° N. Major faults such as the Ballenas- Salsipuedes, Tiburón, Guaymas, and the South Cerro Prieto are clearly observable on these maps. Spectral analysis, using 2-D Fast Fourier Transform methods, of the magnetic anomalies north of 29° N, allowed the identification of at least three distinct magnetic source horizons. The shallowest depth magnetic horizon, with an average depth to the top of 3.1 km below sea level, is interpreted as the top of the magnetic basement. The intermediate depth magnetic horizon, with an average depth to the top of 5.3 km below sea level, may represent either a lithological discontinuity in continental crust, or a transition zone characterized by the intrusion of igneous rocks, faulting, and fracturing associated with rifling processes. Some lineaments observed in the contour map on this horizon are oriented about 15° counterclockwise from the expected orientation of faults. Other lineaments are almost perpendicular to those faults. The deepest magnetic horizon is not apparent at all locations. Computed depths to the bottom of the magnetized crust average 11.5 km below sea level. The depth to the bottom of the magnetic crust is interpreted as the depth of the Curie-point isotherm. Assuming a Curie-point temperature of 580°C and a thermal conductivity of 2.2 W/m °C, the calculated heat flow averages 114 mW/m². Using a two-dimensional Maximum Entropy Method (2DMEM) to obtain the power spectrum of the magnetic anomalies increased the horizontal spatial resolution of the depth determinations by a factor of 4. This method when used to compute the depth to the top of the intermediate horizon, shows an improvement in the delineation of structures. However, the other magnetic horizons and the depth to the bottom of the magnetic crust were not clearly observable using this technique. / Graduation date: 1988