scholarly journals Recovering Moho constituents from satellite altimetry and gravimetric data for Europe and surroundings

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 291-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abrehdary ◽  
L. E. Sjöberg

Abstract In this research, we present a local Moho model, named MOHV19, including Moho depth and Moho density contrast (or shortly Moho constituents) with corresponding uncertainties, which are mapped from altimetric and gravimetric data (DSNSC08) in addition to seismic tomographic (CRUST1.0) and Earth topographic data (Earth2014) to a resolution of 1° × 1° based on a solution of Vening Meinesz-Moritz’ theory of isostasy. The MOHV19 model covers the area of entire European plate along with the surrounding oceans, bounded by latitudes (30 °N–82 °N) and longitudes (40 °W–70 °E). The article aims to interpret the Moho model resulted via altimetric and gravimetric information from the geological and geophysical perspectives along with investigating the relation between the Moho depth and Moho density contrast. Our numerical results show that estimated Moho depths range from 7.5 to 57.9 km with continental and oceanic averages of 41.3 ± 4.9 km and 21.6 ± 9.2 km, respectively, and an overall average of 30.9 ± 12.3 km. The estimated Moho density contrast ranges from 60.2 to 565.8 kg/m3, with averages of 421.8 ± 57.9 and 284.4 ± 62.9 kg/m3 for continental and oceanic regions, respectively, with a total average of 350.3 ± 91.5 kg/m3. In most areas, estimated uncertainties in the Moho constituents are less than 3 km and 40 kg/m3, respectively, but they reach to much more significant values under Iceland, parts of Gulf of Bothnia and along the Kvitoya Island. Comparing the Moho depths estimated by MOHV19 and those derived by CRUST1.0, MDN07, GRAD09 and MD19 models shows that MOHV19 agree fairly well with CRUST1.0 but rather poor with other models. The RMS difference between the Moho density contrasts estimated by MOHV19 and CRUST1.0 models is 49.45 kg/m3.

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abrehdary ◽  
L.E. Sjöberg ◽  
M. Bagherbandi ◽  
D. Sampietro

AbstractWe present a combined method for estimating a new global Moho model named KTH15C, containing Moho depth and Moho density contrast (or shortly Moho parameters), from a combination of global models of gravity (GOCO05S), topography (DTM2006) and seismic information (CRUST1.0 and MDN07) to a resolution of 1° × 1° based on a solution of Vening Meinesz-Moritz’ inverse problem of isostasy. This paper also aims modelling of the observation standard errors propagated from the Vening Meinesz-Moritz and CRUST1.0 models in estimating the uncertainty of the final Moho model. The numerical results yield Moho depths ranging from 6.5 to 70.3 km, and the estimated Moho density contrasts ranging from 21 to 650 kg/m


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Abrehdary ◽  
L. E. Sjöberg ◽  
D. Sampietro

Abstract The determination of the oceanic Moho (or crust-mantle) density contrast derived from seismic acquisitions suffers from severe lack of data in large parts of the oceans, where have not yet been sufficiently covered by such data. In order to overcome this limitation, gravitational field models obtained by means of satellite altimetry missions can be proficiently exploited, as they provide global uniform information with a sufficient accuracy and resolution for such a task. In this article, we estimate a new Moho density contrast model named MDC2018, using the marine gravity field from satellite altimetry in combination with a seismic-based crustal model and Earth’s topographic/bathymetric data. The solution is based on the theory leading to Vening Meinesz-Moritz’s isostatic model. The study results in a high-accuracy Moho density contrast model with a resolution of 1° × 1° in oceanic areas. The numerical investigations show that the estimated density contrast ranges from 14.2 to 599.7 kg/m3 with a global average of 293 kg/m3. In order to evaluate the accuracy of the MDC2018 model, the result was compared with some published global models, revealing that our altimetric model is able to image rather reliable information in most of the oceanic areas. However, the differences between this model and the published results are most notable along the coastal and polar zones, which are most likely due to that the quality and coverage of the satellite altimetry data are worsened in these regions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Erik Sjöberg ◽  
Majid Abrehdary

This chapter describes a theory and application of satellite gravity and altimetry data for determining Moho constituents (i.e. Moho depth and density contrast) with support from a seismic Moho model in a least-squares adjustment. It presents and applies the Vening Meinesz-Moritz gravimetric-isostatic model in recovering the global Moho features. Internal and external uncertainty estimates are also determined. Special emphasis is devoted to presenting methods for eliminating the so-called non-isostatic effects, i.e. the gravimetric signals from the Earth both below the crust and from partly unknown density variations in the crust and effects due to delayed Glacial Isostatic Adjustment as well as for capturing Moho features not related with isostatic balance. The global means of the computed Moho depths and density contrasts are 23.8±0.05 km and 340.5 ± 0.37 kg/m3, respectively. The two Moho features vary between 7.6 and 70.3 km as well as between 21.0 and 650.0 kg/m3. Validation checks were performed for our modeled crustal depths using a recently published seismic model, yielding an RMS difference of 4 km.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muriel Llubes ◽  
Lucia Seoane ◽  
Sean Bruinsma ◽  
Frédérique Rémy

Abstract. Computing a better crustal thickness model is still a necessary improvement in Antarctica. In this far continent where almost all the rocky surface is covered by the ice sheet, seismic investigations do not reach a sufficient spatial resolution for geological and geophysical purposes. Here, we computed a global map of Antarctic crustal thicknesses based on space gravity observations. The DIR5 gravity field model, built from GOCE and also GRACE gravimetric data, is inverted with the Parker–Oldenburg's iterative algorithm. The BEDMAP products are used to estimate the gravity effect of the ice and the rocky surface. Our result is compared to crustal thickness provided by seismological studies, CRUST1.0 and AN1 models. Although CRUST1.0 shows a very good agreement with our model, the spatial resolution is smaller with gravimetric data. Finally, we adjust the crust/mantle density contrast considering the Moho depth from CRUST1.0 model. In East Antarctica, the density contrast clearly shows higher values than in West Antarctica.


Solid Earth ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 457-467
Author(s):  
Muriel Llubes ◽  
Lucia Seoane ◽  
Sean Bruinsma ◽  
Frédérique Rémy

Abstract. Computing a better crustal thickness model is still a necessary improvement in Antarctica. In this remote continent where almost all the bedrock is covered by the ice sheet, seismic investigations do not reach a sufficient spatial resolution for geological and geophysical purposes. Here, we present a global map of Antarctic crustal thickness computed from space gravity observations. The DIR5 gravity field model, built from GOCE and GRACE gravimetric data, is inverted with the Parker–Oldenburg iterative algorithm. The BEDMAP products are used to estimate the gravity effect of the ice and the rocky surface. Our result is compared to crustal thickness calculated from seismological studies and the CRUST1.0 and AN1 models. Although the CRUST1.0 model shows a very good agreement with ours, its spatial resolution is larger than the one we obtain with gravimetric data. Finally, we compute a model in which the crust–mantle density contrast is adjusted to fit the Moho depth from the CRUST1.0 model. In East Antarctica, the resulting density contrast clearly shows higher values than in West Antarctica.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Willi Freeden

<p>The lecture highlights arguments that, coming from multiscale mathematics, have fostered the advancement of gravimetry, as well as those that, generated by gravimetric problems, have contributed to the enhancement in constructive approximation and numerics. Inverse problems in gravimetry are delt with multiscale mollifier decorrelation strategies. Two examples are studied in more detail: (i) Vening Meinesz multiscale surface mollifier regularization to determine locally the Earth's disturbing potential from deflections of vertical, (ii) Newton multiscale volume mollifier regularization of the inverse gravimetry problem to derive locally the density contrast distribution from functionals of the Newton integral and to detect fine particulars of geological relevance. All in all, the Vening Meinesz medal  lecture is meant as an  \lq \lq appetizer'' served to enjoy the tasty meal "Mathematical Geoscience Today'' to be shared by geoscientists and mathematicians in the field of gravimetry. It provides innovative concepts and locally relevant applications presented in a monograph to be published by Birkhäuser in the book series “Geosystems Mathematics” (2021).</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 3076-3085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Audet ◽  
Derek L. Schutt ◽  
Andrew J. Schaeffer ◽  
Clément Estève ◽  
Richard C. Aster ◽  
...  

Abstract Moho morphology in orogens provides important constraints on the rheology and density structure of the crust and underlying mantle. Previous studies of Moho geometry in the northern Canadian Cordillera (NCC) using very sparse seismic data have indicated a flat and shallow (∼30–35  km) Moho, despite an average elevation of >1000  m above sea level attributable to increased thermal buoyancy and lower crustal flow due to elevated temperatures. We estimate Moho depth using receiver functions from an expanded dataset incorporating 173 past and recently deployed broadband seismic stations, including the EarthScope Transportable Array, Mackenzie Mountains transect, and other recent deployments. We determine Moho depths in the range 27–43 km, with mean and standard deviations of 33.0 and 3.0 km, respectively, and note thickened crust beneath high-elevation seismogenic regions. In the Mackenzie Mountains, thicker crust is interpreted as due to crustal stacking from thrust sheet emplacement. The edge of this region of thickened crust is interpreted to delineate the extent of the former Laurentian margin beneath the NCC and is associated with a transition from thrust to strike-slip faulting observed in regional seismicity. More geographically extensive seismograph deployments at EarthScope Transportable Array density and scale will be required to further extend crustal-scale and lithosphere-scale imaging in western Canada.


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