In this project I investigate the detectability of magma reservoirs in the vertical gravity gradient (VGG) anomalies calculated from satellite altimetry data through a suite of synthetic seamount models with a simplified magmatic system, hydrothermal system, and/or a caldera infill. I find that most magmatic and hydrothermal systems create VGG anomalies with a characteristic wavelength and amplitude greater than the data uncertainty and are therefore detectable. There are about 225 submarine volcanoes globally that could be studied with satellite altimetry-derived gravity data to potentially image their magmatic system. Future altimetry data will increase the gravity data resolution and allow us to image smaller features. It is a very promising data set to study largely unexplored submarine volcanoes!

Status: ongoing.