The degree of segmount compensation can be estimated from satellite radar altimetry and bathymetry data. Segmount signatures in the sea-surface topography are detected, located and extracted from Seasat radar altimetry data using a matched filtering algorithm. We have developed an efficient method for determining the two-dimensional undulation signature of any axi-symmetric seamount with an arbitrary degree of compensation. Given the seamount dimensions as determined from bathymetry, we vary its degree of compensation until the model signature matches the signature extracted from Seasat data. We use this technique to map the relative degrees of local seamount compensation within a region. We have applied this technique to 14 of the Musicians Seamounts. Two of these seamounts have been analyzed using two crossing tracks each and confirm the repeatability of the technique. The results suggest the existence of a chain of low compensation seamounts within the highly compensated Musicians. Independent verification is needed from other geophysical and geochemical analyses to support this hypothesis. |