Volcanic eruption of the mid-ocean ridge along the East Pacific Rise crest at 9 degree 45-52 N: direct submersible observations of seafloor phenomena associated with an eruption event in April, 1991

In April, 1991, we witnessed from the submersible Alvin a suite of previously undocumented seafloor phenomena accompanying an in-progress eruption of the mid-ocean ridge on the East Pacific Rise crest at 9 degrees 45'N-52'N. The volume of the eruption could not be precisely determined, although comparison of pre- and post-eruption SeaBeam bathymetry indicate that any changes in ridge crest morphology resulting from the eruption were