Evaluating Closure of the Galapagos Triple Junction Using Novel Instrumentation

University Of California-San Diego Scripps Inst Of Oceanography, La Jolla CA

Investigators

Abstract

The proponents will use a surface towed vector magnetometer and magnetic gradiometers to locate crustal isochrons out to 9 Ma on both flanks of the Pacific-Cocos and Pacific-Nazca East pacific Rise. The goals are to map the 0-9 Ma crustal isochrons at the three triple junction trails. Together with seismic reflection profiling, gravity data and multibeam swathmapping these data will allow the definition of the tectonic history of the Galapagos triple junction and the structure of its rise-flank trails on the Pacific, Cocos, and Nazcia plates.