Anomalous Pacific‐Antarctic Ridge volcanism precedes glacial Termination 2

Abstract

We present results from a well‐dated sediment core on the Pacific‐Antarctic Ridge (PAR) that document a ∼15 cm thick layer of basaltic ash shards that precedes the penultimate deglaciation (Termination 2). The glasses have MORB composition consistent with an axial source and their morphologies are typical of pyroclastic deposits created by submarine volcanism. The ash layer was deposited ∼7 km from the PAR axis, a distance that implies buoyant plumes lofted debris high into the water column with subsequent fallout to the core location. We infer plume rise height using grain settling velocities, the water depth at the core site, and deep ocean current speeds from ARGO floats. Rise heights of 1.5 km or less require unrealistically large current speeds to transport grains to the core site. Instead, the data are consistent with a plume rise height of at least 2 km, implying that T2 was an interval of anomalous volcanism along this segment of the PAR. The timing and duration of the ash deposit is consistent with glacial‐interglacial modulation of ridge magmatism. Volcaniclastic records from additional locations will be necessary to assess whether the PAR record is a rare find or it is representative of mid‐ocean ridge volcanism during glacial terminations.