Developing near-bottom magnetic measurements using a 3D forward modeling technique: Application to hydrothermal vent fields

Abstract

We developed a method for mapping the magnetic structure of absolute magnetization on the seafloor using a three-dimensional forward modeling technique and near-bottom vector magnetic data. We constrained the spatial scale of hydrothermal alteration zones in a back-arc spreading axis of the Southern Mariana Trough. The magnetic signatures of hydrothermal alteration zones are characterized by low magnetization similar to that in mid-ocean ridge vent sites.