[1] Mapping and sampling of 18 eruptive units in two study areas along the Galápagos Spreading Center (GSC) provide insight into how magma supply affects mid-ocean ridge (MOR) volcanic eruptions. The two study areas have similar spreading rates (53 versus 55 mm/yr), but differ by 30% in the time-averaged rate of magma supply (0.3 Â 10 6 versus 0.4 Â 10 6 m 3 /yr/km). Detailed geologic maps of each study area incorporate observations of flow contacts and sediment thickness, in addition to sample petrology, geomagnetic paleointensity, and inferences from high-resolution bathymetry data. At the lower-magma-supply study area, eruptions typically produce irregularly shaped clusters of pillow mounds with total eruptive volumes ranging from 0.09 to 1.3 km 3 . At the higher-magma-supply study area, lava morphologies characteristic of higher effusion rates are more common, eruptions typically occur along elongated fissures, and eruptive volumes are an order of magnitude smaller (0.002-0.13 km 3 ). At this site, glass MgO contents (2.7-8.4 wt. %) and corresponding liquidus temperatures are lower on average, and more variable, than those at the lower-magma-supply study area (6.2-9.1 wt. % MgO). The differences in eruptive volume, lava temperature, morphology, and inferred eruption rates observed between the two areas along the GSC are similar to those that have previously been related to variable spreading rates on the global MOR system. Importantly, the documentation of multiple sequences of eruptions at each study area, representing hundreds to thousands of years, provides constraints on the variability in eruptive style at a given magma supply and spreading rate.

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In the absence of any direct observations of an active submarine eruption at a mid-ocean ridge (MOR), our understanding of volcanic processes there is based on the interpretation of eruptive products. Submarine lava flow morphology serves as a primary indicator of eruption and emplacement processes; however, there is typically a lack of visual observations and bathymetric data at a scale and extent relevant to submarine lava flows, which display meter to submeter-scale morphological variability. In this paper, we merge submersible-based visual observations with high-resolution multibeam bathymetry collected by an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) and examine the fine-scale geomorphology of Niños, a submarine lava flow field at the Gal apagos Spreading Center (GSC).We identify separate morphological facies (i.e., morphofacies) within the lava flow field, each having distinct patterns of lava flow morphology and volcanic structures. The spatial and stratigraphic arrangement of morphofacies suggests that they were emplaced sequentially as the eruption progressed, implying that the Niños eruption consisted of at least three eruptive phases. We estimate eruption parameters and develop a chronological model that describes the construction of the Niños lava flow field. An initial phase with high effusion rates emplaced sheet flows, then an intermediate phase emplaced a platform of lobate lavas, and then an extended final phase with low effusion rates emplaced a discontinuous row of pillow lava domes. We then compare this model to mapped lava flow fields at other MORs. Despite disparities in scale, the morphological similarities of volcanic features at MORs with different spreading rates suggest common emplacement processes that are primarily controlled by local magma supply.

Eruptive timing in mid-ocean ridge systems is relatively poorly constrained, despite being an important variable in our understanding of many mid-ocean ridge processes, including volcanic construction; magma recharge, flux, and storage; and the stability of hydrothermal systems and biological communities. Only a handful of absolute eruption chronologies exist, yet they are essential in understanding how eruptive timing varies with important controlling variables. To construct an eruptive history at one location on the Galapagos Spreading Center, we present age determinations derived from geomagnetic paleointensity. To aid interpretation of the paleointensity data, we also present results from on-bottom magnetic anomaly measurements and forward modeling of topographic-induced magnetic anomalies. Anomalies may lead to a 1-2 mT bias in flow-mean paleointensities, which does not significantly affect the overall interpretation. Paleointensity results for the three youngest sampled units are indistinguishable, consistent with the flows being emplaced in relatively rapid succession. Comparisons with models of geomagnetic field behavior suggest these flows were erupted sometime in the past 100-200 years. The fourth sampled unit has a significantly higher paleointensity, consistent with an age of roughly 400 years. The possible bias in paleointensity data allows for ages as young as 50 years for the youngest three flows and 200-400 years for the oldest flow. This age distribution demonstrates an episodicity in the emplacement of the largest flows at this location, with a 200-300 year period of relative quiescence between emplacement of the oldest unit and the three youngest units.

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