H.J.B. Dick Kim D. Klitgord Hans Schouten 1987 <p>The propagation of small-offset volcanic spreading-centre segments along mid-ocean ridge crests may reflect absolute motion of the plate boundary relative to the underlying mesospheric frame. Such a relationship could be caused by a purely vertical flow of the mantle under spreading centres and would have value in constraining past plate motions from non-transform trends generated during along-ridge propagation and in linking the major-element variability of oceanic crust and upper mantle to the bulk composition and temperatures of mantle ascending under mid-ocean ridges.&nbsp;</p> application/pdf 10.1038/326835a0 en Springer Nature Migration of mid-ocean-ridge volcanic segments article