Bathymetry and geological setting of the South Sandwich Islands volcanic arc

• Published in: Antarctic Science
• Main Authors: Leat, PT, Fretwell, PT, Tate, AJ, Larter, RD, Martin, TJ, Smellie, JL, Jokat, W, Bohrmann, G
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Univ Press 2016
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Oceanography; Physical Oceanography; East Scotia Ridge; Sandwich Islands; South Sandwich Islands; Antarctic Science
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102016000043; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/118374

The South Sandwich Islands and associated seamounts constitute the volcanic arc of an active subduction system situated in the South Atlantic. We introduce a map of the bathymetry and geological setting of the South Sandwich Islands and the associated East Scotia Ridge back-arc spreading centre that consists of two sides: side 1, a regional overview of the volcanic arc, trench and back-arc, and side 2, detailed maps of the individual islands. Side 1 displays the bathymetry at scale 1:750000 of the intra-oceanic, largely submarine South Sandwich arc, the back-arc system and other tectonic boundaries of the subduction system. Satellite images of the islands on side 2 are at scales of 1:50000 and 1:25000 with contours and main volcanological features indicated. These maps are the first detailed topological and bathymetric maps of the area. The islands are entirely volcanic in origin, and most have been volcanically or fumarolically active in historic times. Many of the islands are ice-covered, and the map forms a baseline for future glaciological changes caused by volcanic activities and climate change. The back-arc spreading centre consists of nine segments, most of which have rift-like morphologies.