The Kinematic Evolution of the Galapagos Triple Junction

伍兹霍尔海洋研究所的研究人员正在分析最近在加拉帕戈斯三重交界处收集的多波束测深数据。总体目标是了解：1)与东太平洋隆起附近传播的科科斯-纳斯卡大裂谷有关的应力是否控制着向北和向南的瞬时裂谷的位置和稳定性；2)有利于约100万年前加拉帕戈斯微板块形成的条件。研究小组将：1)汇编所有现有的原始多波束数据，并将它们与最近收集的原始数据整合；2)在加拉帕戈斯微板块启动之前，分析科科斯-纳斯卡裂谷以南的地形模式，以评估裂缝相互作用模型的适用性；3)破译对Dietz深裂谷启动、东太平洋隆起附近一座大型火山的几乎同时形成和加拉帕戈斯微板块建立的控制；4)了解微板块内的地形模式。海脊-海脊-海脊三重结合处的海底地形表明，该背景下的主要岩石圈板块正在内部变形。观测到的形变不是很清楚，但可以提供覆盖在地球表面的岩石圈板块如何对应力做出反应的重要信息？S。最近调查的加拉帕戈斯三重结合部区域，提供了一个无与伦比的大洋三重结合部的景象，并提供了机会来解决有关岩石圈对压力的反应的几个悬而未决的问题，在这种背景下，主要板块在那里相遇，它们的边界正在迅速变化。该项目解决了主要岩石圈板块在应力下如何变形以及板块边界如何发展这一悬而未决的大规模问题。对加拉帕戈斯三重结合部区域的研究还可能提供关于岩浆在板块下方上升并在地表喷发可能如何改变岩石圈应力的洞察。此外，加拉帕戈斯微板块在该区域的形成和发展对大洋中脊的动力学具有重要意义。

Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are analyzing of multibeam bathymetry data that were recently collected at the Galapagos triple junction. The overarching goals are to understand: 1) whether the stresses associated with the large propagating Cocos-Nazca Rift near the East Pacific Rise controls the location and stability of transient rifting to its north and south; 2) the conditions that favored the formation of the Galapagos microplate about 1 million years ago. The research team will: 1) compile all existing raw multibeam data and integrate them with the recently collected raw data; 2) analyze topographic patterns south of the Cocos-Nazca Rift, before the initiation of the Galapagos microplate, to assess the applicability of the crack interaction model; 3) decipher the controls on the initiation of Dietz Deep Rift, the nearly concurrent formation of a large volcano near the East Pacific Rise, and the establishment of the Galapagos microplate; 4) understand topographic patterns within the microplate.A ridge-ridge-ridge oceanic triple junction is where three mid-ocean spreading centers meet. Seafloor topography at ridge-ridge-ridge oceanic triple junctions indicates that the major lithosphere plates in this setting are deforming internally. The observed deformation is not well understood, but can provide important information on how the lithosphere plates that cover Earth?s surface respond to stresses. The recently surveyed Galapagos triple junction region, provides an unparalleled view of an oceanic triple junction, and presents the opportunity to address several outstanding questions about the response of the lithosphere to stresses in this setting where the major plates meet and their boundaries are rapidly changing. This project addresses the outstanding large-scale problem of how major lithospheric plates deform under stress and how plate boundaries develop. The study of the Galapagos triple junction region may also provide insight into how magma rising beneath the plates and erupting on the surface might change the lithospheric stresses. In addition, the initiation and growth of the Galapagos microplate at this region has important implications for the dynamics of mid-ocean ridges.