Abstract
The objectives of this study is to construct a continent-scale model of density variations in the
European upper mantle. The residual mantle gravity anomalies are derived from the GOCE
satellite gravity data, from which gravitational effects of the deep mantle and the crust are
removed.
We take advantage of a recently released seismic model EUNAseis for the crustal structure of the
European continent and the adjacent regions. We examine the propagation of crustal model
uncertainties into determinations of lithospheric mantle density. Given a relatively small range of
expected density variations in the lithospheric mantle, knowledge on the uncertainties associated
with incomplete knowledge of density structure of the crust is of utmost importance for further
progress in density heterogeneity studies.
Our model of mantle density structure has lateral resolution of ca. 100 km, which allows to
distinguish small-scale mantle anomalies and to link them to regional geodynamic processes. To
understand better geodynamic causes of mantle density heterogeneity, we compare mantle
residual gravity anomalies for the European upper mantle with regional upper mantle velocity
structure constrained by high-resolution seismic tomography studies, and compare our regional
upper mantle density model with petrological studies of mantle-derived xenoliths from the Baltic
shield, the Arkhangelsk region, and worldwide.
Original language | English |
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Publication date | 2014 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 2014 AGU Fall Meeting - San Francisco, CA, United States Duration: 15 Dec 2014 → 19 Dec 2014 |
Conference
Conference | 2014 AGU Fall Meeting |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Francisco, CA |
Period | 15/12/2014 → 19/12/2014 |