The Central Pacific Megatrend

Abstract

The WNW-ESE-trending Central Pacific Megatrend is a transbasinal feature comprising several types of geornorphic features—ridges, linear seamount chains, and fractures. First appearing on the satellite altimetry data set, an updated bathymetry effort is presented to verify the existence of such a feature. The route is traced from the Banda Sea in the Indonesian region to South America, a distance of some 19,500 km. Several proposed hotspot tracks are shown to be continuations on the same lineament. The proposed western Pacific Vityaz Trench system does not exist. And, based on the continuous regional base depth of 5400 m, the South Pacific Superswell is an imaginary feature. Additionally, the Megatrend bathymetry shows that it is overlain by the El Nino oceanographic phenomenon. Any tectonic processes associated with the eastward flow of magma surges, such as excess heat, may influence the onset of that event by heat transfer from the lithosphere to the water body.