Deep-tow studies of the structure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge crest near lat 37°N

A detailed study of the structure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge median valley and rift mountains near lat 37°N (FAMOUS) was conducted using a deep-tow instrument package. The median valley may have either a very narrow inner floor (1 to 4 km) and well-developed terraces or a wide inner floor (10 to 14 km) and narrow or no terraces. The terraces appear to be non-steady-state features of the rift valley. The entire depth and gross morphology of the median valley may be accounted for by normal faulting, while volcanic relief contributes to the short-wavelength topography (