Articles | Volume 12, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-691-2021
© Author(s) 2021. 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-12-691-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Gravity effect of Alpine slab segments based on geophysical and petrological modelling
Department of Geophysics, Institute for Geosciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
NERC British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK
School of geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
Jörg Ebbing
Department of Geophysics, Institute for Geosciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
Amr El-Sharkawy
Department of Geophysics, Institute for Geosciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG),
Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
Thomas Meier
Department of Geophysics, Institute for Geosciences, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
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Ran Issachar, Peter Haas, Nico Augustin, and Jörg Ebbing
Solid Earth, 15, 807–826, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-807-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-807-2024, 2024
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In this contribution, we explore the causal relationship between the arrival of the Afar plume and the initiation of the Afro-Arabian rift. We mapped the rift architecture in the triple-junction region using geophysical data and reviewed the available geological data. We interpret a progressive development of the plume–rift system and suggest an interaction between active and passive mechanisms in which the plume provided a push force that changed the kinematics of the associated plates.
Judith Freienstein, Wolfgang Szwillus, Agnes Wansing, and Jörg Ebbing
Solid Earth, 15, 513–533, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-513-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-513-2024, 2024
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Geothermal heat flow influences ice sheet dynamics, making its investigation important for ice-covered regions. Here we evaluate the sparse measurements for their agreement with regional solid Earth models, as well as with a statistical approach. This shows that some points should be excluded from regional studies. In particular, the NGRIP point, which strongly influences heat flow maps and the distribution of high basal melts, should be statistically considered an outlier.
Peter Haas, Myron F. H. Thomas, Christian Heine, Jörg Ebbing, Andrey Seregin, and Jimmy van Itterbeeck
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-425, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-425, 2024
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Transform faults are conservative plate boundaries, where no material is added or destroyed. Oceanic fracture zones are their inactive remnants and record tectonic processes that formed oceanic crust. In this study, Haas et al. combine high resolution data sets along fracture zones in the Gulf of Guinea to demonstrate that their formation is characterized by increased metamorphic conditions. This is in line with previous studies that describe the non-conservative character of transform faults.
Angelika Graiff, Matthias Braun, Amelie Driemel, Jörg Ebbing, Hans-Peter Grossart, Tilmann Harder, Joseph I. Hoffman, Boris Koch, Florian Leese, Judith Piontek, Mirko Scheinert, Petra Quillfeldt, Jonas Zimmermann, and Ulf Karsten
Polarforschung, 91, 45–57, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-91-45-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/polf-91-45-2023, 2023
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There are many approaches to better understanding Antarctic processes that generate very large data sets (
Antarctic big data). For these large data sets there is a pressing need for improved data acquisition, curation, integration, service, and application to support fundamental scientific research, and this article describes and evaluates the current status of big data in various Antarctic scientific disciplines, identifies current gaps, and provides solutions to fill these gaps.
William Colgan, Agnes Wansing, Kenneth Mankoff, Mareen Lösing, John Hopper, Keith Louden, Jörg Ebbing, Flemming G. Christiansen, Thomas Ingeman-Nielsen, Lillemor Claesson Liljedahl, Joseph A. MacGregor, Árni Hjartarson, Stefan Bernstein, Nanna B. Karlsson, Sven Fuchs, Juha Hartikainen, Johan Liakka, Robert S. Fausto, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Anders Bjørk, Jens-Ove Naslund, Finn Mørk, Yasmina Martos, Niels Balling, Thomas Funck, Kristian K. Kjeldsen, Dorthe Petersen, Ulrik Gregersen, Gregers Dam, Tove Nielsen, Shfaqat A. Khan, and Anja Løkkegaard
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2209–2238, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2209-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2209-2022, 2022
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We assemble all available geothermal heat flow measurements collected in and around Greenland into a new database. We use this database of point measurements, in combination with other geophysical datasets, to model geothermal heat flow in and around Greenland. Our geothermal heat flow model is generally cooler than previous models of Greenland, especially in southern Greenland. It does not suggest any high geothermal heat flows resulting from Icelandic plume activity over 50 million years ago.
Igor Ognev, Jörg Ebbing, and Peter Haas
Solid Earth, 13, 431–448, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-431-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-431-2022, 2022
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We present a new 3D crustal model of Volgo–Uralia, an eastern segment of the East European craton. We built this model by processing the satellite gravity data and using prior crustal thickness estimation from regional seismic studies to constrain the results. The modelling revealed a high-density body on the top of the mantle and otherwise reflected the main known features of the Volgo–Uralian crustal architecture. We plan to use the obtained model for further geothermal analysis of the region.
Rainer Kind, Stefan M. Schmid, Xiaohui Yuan, Benjamin Heit, Thomas Meier, and the AlpArray and AlpArray-SWATH-D Working Groups
Solid Earth, 12, 2503–2521, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2503-2021, 2021
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A large amount of new seismic data from the greater Alpine area have been obtained within the AlpArray and SWATH-D projects. S-to-P converted seismic phases from the Moho and from the mantle lithosphere have been processed with a newly developed method. Examples of new observations are a rapid change in Moho depth at 13° E below the Tauern Window from 60 km in the west to 40 km in the east and a second Moho trough along the boundary of the Bohemian Massif towards the Western Carpathians.
Pavol Zahorec, Juraj Papčo, Roman Pašteka, Miroslav Bielik, Sylvain Bonvalot, Carla Braitenberg, Jörg Ebbing, Gerald Gabriel, Andrej Gosar, Adam Grand, Hans-Jürgen Götze, György Hetényi, Nils Holzrichter, Edi Kissling, Urs Marti, Bruno Meurers, Jan Mrlina, Ema Nogová, Alberto Pastorutti, Corinne Salaun, Matteo Scarponi, Josef Sebera, Lucia Seoane, Peter Skiba, Eszter Szűcs, and Matej Varga
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2165–2209, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2165-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2165-2021, 2021
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The gravity field of the Earth expresses the overall effect of the distribution of different rocks at depth with their distinguishing densities. Our work is the first to present the high-resolution gravity map of the entire Alpine orogen, for which high-quality land and sea data were reprocessed with the exact same calculation procedures. The results reflect the local and regional structure of the Alpine lithosphere in great detail. The database is hereby openly shared to serve further research.
Wolfgang Szwillus, Jörg Ebbing, and Bernhard Steinberger
Solid Earth, 11, 1551–1569, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1551-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1551-2020, 2020
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At the bottom of the mantle (2850 km depth) two large volumes of reduced seismic velocity exist underneath Africa and the Pacific. Their reduced velocity can be explained by an increased temperature or a different chemical composition. We use the gravity field to determine the density distribution inside the Earth's mantle and find that it favors a distinct chemical composition over a purely thermal cause.
Marcel Tesch, Johannes Stampa, Thomas Meier, Edi Kissling, György Hetényi, Wolfgang Friederich, Michael Weber, Ben Heit, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2020-122, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2020-122, 2020
Publication in SE not foreseen
Cameron Spooner, Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth, Hans-Jürgen Götze, Jörg Ebbing, György Hetényi, and the AlpArray Working Group
Solid Earth, 10, 2073–2088, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2073-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2073-2019, 2019
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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.
Emanuel D. Kästle, Claudio Rosenberg, Lapo Boschi, Nicolas Bellahsen, Thomas Meier, and Amr El-Sharkawy
Solid Earth Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2019-102, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2019-102, 2019
Revised manuscript not accepted
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We compare a set of tomographic models that image the upper mantle beneath the Alps and try to find evidence for a potential break off of the subducting European plate. We infer that break offs are likely to have happened all around the Alpine arc, but timing, exact location and interaction between European and Adriatic plate still difficult to assess.
We highlight the value of integrating different tomographic methods to obtain a more complete picture of the deep structures.
Emanuel D. Kästle, Claudio Rosenberg, Lapo Boschi, Nicolas Bellahsen, Thomas Meier, and Amr El-Sharkawy
Solid Earth Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2019-17, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-2019-17, 2019
Revised manuscript not accepted
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We provide an extensive comparison of high-resolution subsurface models of the Alpine subduction zone. The imaged slab geometries are discussed in relation to the geodynamic evolution of the Alpine region. In the eastern Alps, we compare the models to three scenarios from the literature and propose a fourth one which best fits the tomographic images and the geological constraints. We find that the European slab is broken off below the entire Alpine arc, at variable depth levels.
F. Sodoudi, A. Brüstle, T. Meier, R. Kind, W. Friederich, and EGELADOS working group
Solid Earth, 6, 135–151, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-135-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-135-2015, 2015
A. Brüstle, W. Friederich, T. Meier, and C. Gross
Solid Earth, 5, 1027–1044, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1027-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-1027-2014, 2014
W. Friederich, A. Brüstle, L. Küperkoch, T. Meier, S. Lamara, and Egelados Working Group
Solid Earth, 5, 275–297, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-275-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-5-275-2014, 2014
S. Wehling-Benatelli, D. Becker, M. Bischoff, W. Friederich, and T. Meier
Solid Earth, 4, 405–422, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-405-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-405-2013, 2013
C. Weidle, R. A. Soomro, L. Cristiano, and T. Meier
Adv. Geosci., 36, 21–25, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-36-21-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-36-21-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Subject area: Tectonic plate interactions, magma genesis, and lithosphere deformation at all scales | Editorial team: Geodesy, gravity, and geomagnetism | Discipline: Geodynamics
Analytical solution for residual stress and strain preserved in anisotropic inclusion entrapped in an isotropic host
The role of edge-driven convection in the generation of volcanism – Part 1: A 2D systematic study
The effect of effective rock viscosity on 2-D magmatic porosity waves
Xin Zhong, Marcin Dabrowski, and Bjørn Jamtveit
Solid Earth, 12, 817–833, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-817-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-817-2021, 2021
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Elastic thermobarometry is an useful tool to recover paleo-pressure and temperature. Here, we provide an analytical model based on the Eshelby solution to calculate the residual stress and strain preserved in a mineral inclusion exhumed from depth. The method applies to ellipsoidal, anisotropic inclusions in infinite isotropic hosts. A finite-element method is also used for a facet effect. Volumetrically averaged stress is shown to be a good proxy for the overall heterogeneous stress stage.
Antonio Manjón-Cabeza Córdoba and Maxim D. Ballmer
Solid Earth, 12, 613–632, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-613-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-613-2021, 2021
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The study of intraplate volcanism can inform us about underlying mantle dynamic processes and thermal and/or compositional anomalies. Here, we investigated numerical models of mantle flow and melting of edge-driven convection (EDC), a potential origin for intraplate volcanism. Our most important conclusion is that EDC can only produce moderate amounts of mantle melting. By itself, EDC is insufficient to support the formation of voluminous island-building volcanism over several millions of years.
Janik Dohmen, Harro Schmeling, and Jan Philipp Kruse
Solid Earth, 10, 2103–2113, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2103-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-2103-2019, 2019
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In source regions of magmatic systems the temperature is above solidus and melt ascent is assumed to occur predominantly by two-phase flow. This two-phase flow allows for the emergence of solitary porosity waves. By now most solutions of these waves used strongly simplified viscosity laws, while in our laws the viscosity decreases rapidly for small melt fractions. The results show that for higher background porosities the phase velocities and the width of the wave are significantly decreased.
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Short summary
This study estimates the gravitational contribution from subcrustal density heterogeneities interpreted as subducting lithosphere beneath the Alps to the gravity field. We showed that those heterogeneities contribute up to 40 mGal of gravitational signal. Such density variations are often not accounted for in Alpine lithospheric models. We demonstrate that future studies should account for subcrustal density variations to provide a meaningful representation of the complex geodynamic Alpine area.
This study estimates the gravitational contribution from subcrustal density heterogeneities...