Articles | Volume 10, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2073-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2073-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
21 Nov 2019
Research article |
| 21 Nov 2019
| 21 Nov 2019
Density distribution across the Alpine lithosphere constrained by 3-D gravity modelling and relation to seismicity and deformation
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, Potsdam University,
Potsdam, Germany
Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth
GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
Department of Geology, Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH Aachen
University, Aachen, Germany
Hans-Jürgen Götze
Institute of Geosciences, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel,
Germany
Jörg Ebbing
Institute of Geosciences, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kiel,
Germany
György Hetényi
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne,
Switzerland
the AlpArray Working Group
For further information regarding the team, please visit the link which appears at the end of the paper.
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Cited
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A new-generation multiparameter elastic model of the crust and upper mantle of the greater Alpine area and the Apennines using teleseismic full waveform inversion: data, method and models N. Mohammadi et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggag174
- Gravity effect of Alpine slab segments based on geophysical and petrological modelling M. Lowe et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-691-2021
- Deriving a New Crustal Model of Northern Adria: The Northern Adria Crust (NAC) Model A. Magrin & G. Rossi https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00089
- Not too old to rock: ESR and OSL dating reveal Quaternary activity of the Periadriatic Fault in the Alps E. Prince et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-024-02015-6
- The 3D thermal field across the Alpine orogen and its forelands and the relation to seismicity C. Spooner et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2020.103288
- Crustal structure and deep geotherm of the Pearl River Delta in South China: Insights from gravity and thermal modeling K. Liao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2024.103245
- On the use of gravity data in delineating geologic features of interest for geothermal exploration in the Geneva Basin (Switzerland): prospects and limitations L. Guglielmetti & A. Moscariello https://doi.org/10.1186/s00015-021-00392-8
- How biased are our models? – a case study of the alpine region D. Degen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-7133-2021
- How Alpine seismicity relates to lithospheric strength C. Spooner et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-022-02174-5
- 3D crustal structure of the Eastern Alpine region from ambient noise tomography I. Molinari et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ringps.2020.100006
- Control of inherited structures on deformation and surface uplift: Crustal-scale analogue modelling with implications for the European eastern Southern Alps A. Sieberer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230736
- Large-scale rheological and tectonic effects of localized garnet breakdown: a case from the Pannonian Basin K. Porkoláb et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43790-4
- Lithospheric density structure of the southern Central Andes constrained by 3D data-integrative gravity modelling C. Rodriguez Piceda et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-020-01962-1
- Gravity modeling of the Alpine lithosphere affected by magmatism based on seismic tomography D. Tadiello & C. Braitenberg https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-539-2021
- Magma storage and degassing beneath the youngest volcanoes of the Massif Central (France): Lessons for the monitoring of a dormant volcanic province G. Boudoire et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121603
- Exploiting physics-based machine learning to quantify geodynamic effects – insights from the Alpine region D. Degen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-9219-2025
16 citations as recorded by crossref.
- A new-generation multiparameter elastic model of the crust and upper mantle of the greater Alpine area and the Apennines using teleseismic full waveform inversion: data, method and models N. Mohammadi et al. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggag174
- Gravity effect of Alpine slab segments based on geophysical and petrological modelling M. Lowe et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-691-2021
- Deriving a New Crustal Model of Northern Adria: The Northern Adria Crust (NAC) Model A. Magrin & G. Rossi https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00089
- Not too old to rock: ESR and OSL dating reveal Quaternary activity of the Periadriatic Fault in the Alps E. Prince et al. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-024-02015-6
- The 3D thermal field across the Alpine orogen and its forelands and the relation to seismicity C. Spooner et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2020.103288
- Crustal structure and deep geotherm of the Pearl River Delta in South China: Insights from gravity and thermal modeling K. Liao et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2024.103245
- On the use of gravity data in delineating geologic features of interest for geothermal exploration in the Geneva Basin (Switzerland): prospects and limitations L. Guglielmetti & A. Moscariello https://doi.org/10.1186/s00015-021-00392-8
- How biased are our models? – a case study of the alpine region D. Degen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-14-7133-2021
- How Alpine seismicity relates to lithospheric strength C. Spooner et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-022-02174-5
- 3D crustal structure of the Eastern Alpine region from ambient noise tomography I. Molinari et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ringps.2020.100006
- Control of inherited structures on deformation and surface uplift: Crustal-scale analogue modelling with implications for the European eastern Southern Alps A. Sieberer et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230736
- Large-scale rheological and tectonic effects of localized garnet breakdown: a case from the Pannonian Basin K. Porkoláb et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-43790-4
- Lithospheric density structure of the southern Central Andes constrained by 3D data-integrative gravity modelling C. Rodriguez Piceda et al. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-020-01962-1
- Gravity modeling of the Alpine lithosphere affected by magmatism based on seismic tomography D. Tadiello & C. Braitenberg https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-539-2021
- Magma storage and degassing beneath the youngest volcanoes of the Massif Central (France): Lessons for the monitoring of a dormant volcanic province G. Boudoire et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121603
- Exploiting physics-based machine learning to quantify geodynamic effects – insights from the Alpine region D. Degen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-9219-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 23 Oct 2026
Short summary
By utilising both the observed gravity field of the Alps and their forelands and indications from deep seismic surveys, we were able to produce a 3-D structural model of the region that indicates the distribution of densities within the lithosphere. We found that the present-day Adriatic crust is both thinner and denser than the European crust and that the properties of Alpine crust are strongly linked to their provenance.
By utilising both the observed gravity field of the Alps and their forelands and indications...
