A Comparative Multichannel Seismic Investigation into the Structure of Two Polynesian Volcanic Chains: Marquesas and Societies

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This is a project involving a two-ship and single ship multichannel seismic survey of the Society and Marquesas hot spot chains in the Pacific ocean. It is a collaborative project with the French. Work will include wide angle and expanding spread two-ship profiles and single ship MCS. The study is aimed at understanding the nature of zero age volcanism at the southeast end of the chains, the factors contributing to the onset of volcanism at the northwest end of the chains, and the relationship of the hot spots to the Marquesas Fracture Zone. A particular objective is to understand hot spotlithospheric interaction in two different setting--normal lithosphere and weak lithosphere. Mid-plate volcanism and its interaction with oceanic lithosphere is a process of fundamental importance in understanding the structure and evolution of ocean basins. Active source seismic studies such as this one will provide important detailed information regarding the structure of the lithosphere beneath and surrounding volcanic loads that is currently lacking. Dr. McNutt and her co-workers are among the leaders in the study of mid-plate volcanism and lithospheric structure, as well as multichannel seismics.