ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews advances in satellite altimetry for imaging small-scale structures on the seafloor, focusing on oceanic microplates and fracture zones, followed by imaging fault systems on stretched continental crust. It focuses on the two examples: on the Falkland Plateau and the Lord Howe Rise, both stretched, submerged continental plateaus where satellite altimetry data allow the mapping of detailed fault fabrics. The chapter reviews the utility of satellite altimetry data for understanding the timing and nature of major tectonic reorganizations in the ocean basins. It discusses that, the geoid maps can be converted to maps of gravity anomaly and can reveal the tectonics of the seafloor. The error budget for recovery of gravity anomaly and especially vertical gravity gradient is dominated by the range precision of the radar measurement. Marine gravity anomalies derived from satellite altimetry have been used to help delineate the boundary between continental and oceanic crust as well as regional fault systems on stretched continental crust.
