Reconsidering Effective Elastic Thickness Estimates by Incorporating the Effect of Sediments: A Case Study for Europe

Abstract

In the present study we analyzed the influence of density heterogeneity in the sedimentary cover on estimates of the effective elastic thickness (EET) of the lithosphere based on a cross-spectral analysis of gravity and topography data. The fan wavelet coherence technique was employed to calculate EET for most of Europe and adjoining southern mountain belts. We employed Bouguer gravity anomalies and topography corrected for the effect of density variations within sediments. Correcting for sediments considerably suppresses the effect of unexpressed subsurface loads and substantially reduces EET estimates in areas with negligible topography variations as it was demonstrated for North Europe and East European Platform. The results show a good correspondence between the EET patterns and tectonic fragmentation of Europe and better agree with independent estimates based on the strength model of the lithosphere. Therefore, considering of the effect of sediments is essential for correct determinations of EET in flat areas.