Full text loading...
-
Residual Gravity for Plate Tectonic Modelling Based on Global Gravity Model Analysis
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 76th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2014, Jun 2014, Volume 2014, p.1 - 5
Abstract
Gravity data are an important tool for plate tectonic modelling as they image oceanic fracture zones which delineate the movement of plates as well as plate boundaries and geological structures on conjugate plate margins. Reconstructing gravity images in a plate tectonic context enables plate models and processes to be assessed. The continuity of reconstructed images is often hampered by the effects of long wavelength components of the Earth’s gravity field. Investigation of the power spectrum of the EGM2008 global gravity model suggests the dominance of sources from a small number of typical depth ranges within the Earth’s mantle and at the core-mantle boundary. We subtract the deeper components defined by spherical harmonic degrees up to 27. The residual gravity field images features in the crust and uppermost mantle including most of the features related to plate tectonic modelling. Reconstructions of the residual gravity grid provide improved continuity across plate boundaries and enhanced insights into plate tectonic processes.