Abstract
The relationship between the magnetic anomalies over Iceland and those over Reykjanes Ridge is investigated using the data of the 1965 Dominion Observatory survey. A method is developed for determining the two-dimensionality of the anomalies from the component data measured in this survey. This method is based on testing the first and the second derivative of the magnetic potential with respect to the direction of two-dimensionality, using the component data along a single flight line. Testing the first derivative also yields the direction of two-dimensionality. The outcomes of the two tests (based on a single line) are compared with the observed two-dimensionality (established by narrowly spaced earlier surveys) of Reykjanes Ridge, showing good agreement. As the outcomes of the two tests provide complementary information they are combined into a single factor: A. This factor of two-dimensionality is very low for the anomalies over the shelf of Iceland indicating that the anomalies over Iceland cannot be continued directly into those over Reykjanes Ridge. Over Iceland A is generally low. Over the neovolcanic zone in eastern Iceland twodimensionality is associated with long wavelengths that are not present in the spectrum of the anomalies over Reykjanes Ridge. Thus, Reykjanes Ridge-type anomalies are absent with the exception of the central anomaly. This may not be used as evidence against crustal spreading since the kinematic model proposed by Pálmason for Iceland has a wide transition zone between rock of opposite polarity. The same model if computed for a mid-ocean ridge has narrow transition zones. The larger width of the transition zone blurs the anomalies related to the reversals of the earth magnetic field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
AtwaterT. and MudieJ. D.: 1973, ‘Detailed Near-Bottom Geophysical Study of the Gorda Rise’, J. Geophys. Res. 78, 8665–86.
BeloussovV. V.: 1970, ‘Against the Hypothesis of Ocean-Floor Spreading’, Tectonophys, 9, 489–511.
BlakelyR. J., CoxA., and IuferE. J.: 1973, ‘Vector Magnetic Data for Detecting Short Polarity Intervals in Marine Magnetic Profiles’, J. Geophys. Res. 78, 6977–83.
BodvarssonG. and WalkerG. P. L.: 1964, ‘Crustal Drift in Iceland’, Geophys. J. Roy Astron. Soc. 8, 285–300.
deBoerJ., SchillingJ.-G., and KrauseD. C.: 1970, ‘Reykjanes Ridge: Implication of Magnetic Properties of Dredged Rock’, Earth Planetary Sci. Letters 9, 55–60.
BracewellR.: 1965, The Fourier Transform and Its Applications, McGraw-Hill Book Cy, New York, 381 p.
ColletteB. J., SchoutenJ. A., and RuttenK. W.: 1972, ‘θ-Magnetometry: an Additional Tool in Ocean Surveying’, EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. Union 53, 267.
HainesG. V., HannafordW., and SersonP. H.: 1970, ‘Magnetic Anomaly Maps of the Nordic Countries and the Greenland and Norwegian Seas’, Publ. Dominion Obs. 39, 123–49.
HarrisonC. G. A.: 1968, ‘Formation of Magnetic Anomaly Patterns by Dyke Injection’, J. Geophys. Res. 73, 2137–42.
HarrisonC. G. A.: (1974), ‘Tectonics of Mid-ocean Ridges’, Tectonophys. 22, 301–10.
HeirtzlerJ. R.: 1975, ‘Project FAMOUS-Man's First Voyages Down to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge’, Nat. Geograph. 147, 586–603.
HeirtzlerJ. R., LePichonX., and BaronJ. G.: 1966, ‘Magnetic Anomalies over the Reykjanes Ridge’, Deep-Sea Res. 13, 427–43.
HildebrandF. B.: 1962, Advanced Calculus for Applications, Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey, 646 p.
Kjartansson, G.: 1960, Geological Map of Iceland, Sheet 3, South-West Iceland, Cultural Fund, Reykjavik.
KristjanssonL.: 1970, ‘Paleomagnetism and Magnetic Surveys in Iceland’, Earth Planetary Sci. Letters 8, 101–8.
KristjanssonL.: 1972, ‘On the Thickness of the Magnetic Crustal layer in South-Western Iceland’, Earth Planetary Sci. Letters 16, 237–44.
MarshallM. and CoxA.: 1971, ‘Magnetism of Pillow Basalts and Their Petrology’, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 537–52.
MatthewsD. H. and BathJ.: 1967, ‘Formation of Magnetic Anomaly Pattern of Mid-Atlantic Ridge’, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc. 13, 349–57.
MeyerO., VoppelD., FleischerU., ClossH., and GerkeK.: 1972, ‘Results of Bathymetric, Magnetic and Gravimetric Measurements Between Iceland and 70 N’, Deut. Hydrogr. Z. 25, 193–201.
MorganW. J. and LoomisT. P.: 1971, ‘Correlation Coefficients and Sea-Floor Spreading an Automated Analysis of Magnetic Profiles’, Marine Geophys. Res. 1, 248–60.
LeMouelJ.-L.: 1970, ‘Le levé aéromagnétique de la France. Calcul des composantes du champ à partir des mesures de l'intensité’, Ann. géophys. 26, 229–58.
PálmasonG.: 1973, ‘Kinematics and Heat Flow in a Volcanic Rift Zone, with Application to Iceland’, Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc. 33, 451–81.
PálmasonG. and SaemundssonK.: 1974, ‘Iceland in Relation to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge’, Ann. Rev. Earth Planetary Sci. 2, 25–50.
PiperJ. D. A.: 1973, ‘Interpretation of Some Magnetic Anomalies over Iceland’, Tectonophys. 16, 163–87.
RuttenM. G.: 1971, ‘Iceland and Mid-Oceanic Ridges’, Marine Geophys. Res. 1, 235–47.
Schönharting, G.: 1969, Vermessung des erdmagnetischen Feldes längs einiger Profile in Nord-Island, deren Auswertung und Interpretation, Inaugural-Dissertation Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 121 p.
SchoutenJ. A.: 1971, ‘A Fundamental Analysis of Magnetic Anomalies over Oceanic Ridges’, Marine Geophys. Res. 1, 111–44.
SchoutenJ. A. and McCamyK.: 1972, ‘Filtering Marine Magnetic Anomalies’, J. Geophys. Res. 77, 7089–99.
SersonP. H. and WhithamK.: 1971, ‘Three-Component Airborne Magnetometers’, in S.Flügge (ed.), Encycl. of Physics, Vol. 49/3, 384–94, Springer Verlag, Berlin.
SersonP. H., HannafordW., and HainesG. V.: 1968, ‘Magnetic Anomalies over Iceland’, Science 162, 355–57.
SigurgeirssonT.: 1970, ‘Aeromagnetic Survey of SW Iceland’, Sci. Iceland 2, 13–20.
SpectorA. and GrantF. S.: 1970, ‘Statistical Models for Interpreting Aeromagnetic Data’, Geophys. 35, 293–302.
SybergF. J. R.: 1972, ‘A Fourier Method for the Regional-Residual Problem of Potential Fields’, Geophys. Prosp. 20, 47–75.
TalwaniM., WindischC. C., and LangsethM. G.: 1971, ‘Reykjanes Ridge Crest: A Detailed Geophysical Study’, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 473–517.
ThorarinssonS.: 1974, ‘On the Topography of the Volcanic Zones in Iceland’, in L.Kristjansson (ed.), Geodynamics of Iceland and the North Atlantic Area, p. 203, D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht-Holland.
VineF. J. and MatthewsD. H.: 1963, ‘Magnetic Anomalies over Oceanic Ridges’, Nature 199, 947–49.
VineF. J. and MorganW. J.: 1967, ‘Simulation of Mid-Ocean Ridge Magnetic Anomalies Using a Random Injection Model’, Abstracts for 1967, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper 115, 228.
WalkerG. P. L.: 1960, ‘Zeolite Zones and Dike Distribution in Relation to the Structure of the Basalts of Eastern Iceland’, J. Geol. 68, 515–28.
WardP. L.: 1971, ‘New Interpretation of the Geology of Iceland’, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 2991–3012.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rutten, K. Two-dimensionality of magnetic anomalies over Iceland and Reykjanes Ridge. Mar Geophys Res 2, 243–263 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305506
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305506