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Northern Gorda Ridge, northeastern Pacific On February 28, 1996, intense earthquake activity was detected in the northeast Pacific Ocean. After several days the number of events decreased. The activity was located on the northernmost segment of the Gorda Ridge. The Gorda Ridge is a mid-ocean ridge (divergent plate boundary) about 120 miles (200 km) west of the coast of the state of Oregon. A research ship reached the area and detected a thermal plume. Results of this initial cruise are posted on the PMEL-NOAA WWW page Preliminary interpretation of the earthquake data suggests the event is an intrusion of magma into the ridge, not an eruption. On Friday March 15, 1996, intense earthquake activity increased again. A second cruise to the area is being funded by the National Science Foundation. The scientific cruise is planned for the first two weeks of April, 1996. Scientists will study the water column above the ridge and used a camera to photograph the ridge. A similar seismic event was observed in June 1993 at the CoAxial Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, which was later documented to be a lateral injection of magma with subsequent eruption. |
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