Thursday, 30 August 2007 - 10:30 AM
4.A.B-2
Lithospheric structure across the Transantarctic Mountains constrained by analysis of gravity and thermal structure
Audrey D. Huerta, Dept. of Geosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 407 Deike Bldg, University Park, PA 16802
Results of gravity modeling based on realistic density distribution provide constraints on the lithospheric structure of Transantarctic Mountains (TAM) and adjacent regions. Model results yield a lithospheric thickness of 60 km for the Ross Sea region of the West Antarctic Rift System, and a lithospehric thickness of ~250 km for the East Antarctic craton. These thicknesses are consistent with the tectonic setting of an extended region of West Antarctica and the cratonic lithosphere of East Antarctica. In addition, model results suggest that the necessary additional bouyant support of the TAM comes from radiogenic heat of the TAM crust.