Table 1 Description of identified seismic units by using seismo-stratigraphic standard terms52 and their interpretation. Each data segment is 1 km wide and 200 m high. The positions of each data segment are shown in Figure S2.

From: Seismic imagery from volcanoes on the Azores Plateau implies that explosive deep-water eruptions are more common than previously thought

Unit

Image

Reflection characteristics

Interpretation

8

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Strong amplitudes; parallel to slightly wavy reflections. Drapes underlying Unit 7. Occasionally with extensive chaotic facies

Hemipelagites with intercalated ash from subaerial volcanism36,37,38,39

7

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Weak amplitudes; parallel to slightly wavy reflections. Locally disrupted every few hundred metres. Drapes underlying units; sharp contrast to overlying Unit 8

Hemipelagites

6

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High amplitudes; stratiform reflections. Locally developed. Gradual transition to underlying Unit 4; sharp transition to overlying Unit 7

Lava flows13,54,55,59,60,61

5c

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Upward-increasing amplitudes and reflection continuity; chaotic in the lower part. Overlies and fills a depression at the top of Unit 5b

Upwards coarsening volcaniclastics, possibly lava (this study)

5b

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Variable amplitudes; upwardly concave and outward-converging continuous reflections, intercalated chaotic reflection packages. Downlapping underlying units; crater at the top

Volcaniclastics, formed by explosive eruptions8,43,44,45,46,47,62,63,64,69,70,71,72,75,76,77,78

5a

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Weak but variable amplitudes; granular in the centre, chaotic or partly outward-converging; overall mound-shaped geometry. Gradual transition to underlying Unit 4 and overlying Unit 5b

Volcaniclastics8,69,70,71,72,73, possibly hydrothermal deposits62,74

4

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Variable amplitudes, generally higher than those of Unit 7; sub-parallel to chaotic reflections beneath the DWVs, becoming continuous and parallel with increasing distance

Hemipelagites, overprinted by incipient volcanic eruption (this study)

3

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High amplitudes; lower part stratiform, upper part mainly continuous. Gradual transition to overlying Unit 4

Lava flows13,54,55,59,60,61

2

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Strong amplitude variability; stratiform; upwardly concave reflections, funnel-shaped unit, nested within Unit 1 where underneath DWVs and to the side

Hemipelagites overprinted by ascending magma and fluids (this study)

1

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Weak but variable amplitudes; stratiform reflections. Lower boundary not imaged. Gradual transition to nested Unit 2 and overlying Unit 3

Hemipelagites