Matching satellite-derived gravity signatures and seismicity patterns along mid-ocean ridges

A world-wide correlation between satellite-derived gravity signatures and the relative abudance of teledtected earthquakes over mid-ocean ridges has yielded some unexpected results. Rift valley disappearances along slow-spreading centres and attendant excess volcanism coincide with seismicity gaps, at times related to nearby hotspots, whereas earthquakes clusters along virtually asesimic, faster spreading centres systematically indicate the presence of active propagating ridge tips. Therefore, at the world scale of investigation, seismicity fairly well predicts ridge morphology.