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.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Title | Segmentation of mid-ocean ridges |
| DOI | 10.1038/317225a0 |
| Authors | Hans Schouten, Kim D. Klitgord, J.A. Whitehead |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Nature |
| Index ID | 70013103 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center |