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On the isostatic state of the Eastern Alps and the Central Andes; a statistical comparison

Hans-Juergen Goetze, Bruno Meurers, Sabine Schmidt and Peter Steinhauser
On the isostatic state of the Eastern Alps and the Central Andes; a statistical comparison (in Andean magmatism and its tectonic setting, Russell S. Harmon (editor) and Carlos W. Rapela (editor))
Special Paper - Geological Society of America (1991) 265: 279-290

Abstract

The gravity field of the eastern Alps and the central Andes was investigated with regard to the isostatic state and the tectonic evolution of these young orogens. Bouguer and isostatic anomalies were correlated with mean topographic heights. Statistical analysis and theoretical modeling were applied in order to determine the degree to which quantitative conclusions could be drawn. Additionally the balance of topographic surplus and deficit masses was estimated for both areas under investigation. A significant correlation between Bouguer anomalies and mean topographic heights is observed, which qualitatively indicates more or less isostatic equilibrium, while the mean isostatic anomalies are slightly positive and larger in the Andes than in the Alps. This agrees well with results from mass budget estimations, which show gravimetric mass deficits being 10 percent smaller than the topographic load for both mountain ranges. Therefore, an undercompensation effect of the Alpine and Andean crust can be concluded. On a regional scale this is in contrast to the observed positive vertical movements, because subsidence should be expected. Therefore, the isostatic states and the vertical movement patterns can be considered to be effects of plate tectonic forces due, respectively, to the collision of the Eurasian and African plates (eastern Alps) and the subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American continent (central Andes).


ISSN: 0072-1077
EISSN: 2331-219X
Coden: GSAPAZ
Serial Title: Special Paper - Geological Society of America
Serial Volume: 265
Title: On the isostatic state of the Eastern Alps and the Central Andes; a statistical comparison
Title: Andean magmatism and its tectonic setting
Author(s): Goetze, Hans-JuergenMeurers, BrunoSchmidt, SabineSteinhauser, Peter
Author(s): Harmon, Russell S.Editor
Author(s): Rapela, Carlos W.Editor
Affiliation: Freie Univ. Berlin, Inst. Geophys. Wiss., Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany
Affiliation: Nat. Environ. Res. Counc., Isot. Geosci. Lab., Keyworth, United Kingdom
Pages: 279-290
Published: 1991
Text Language: English
Publisher: Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
ISBN: 0-8137-2265-9
Meeting name: Geological Society of America centennial meeting
Meeting name: 7th Latin America geological congress
Meeting location: Denver, CO, USA, United States
Meeting location: Belen, BRA, Brazil
Meeting date: 19881030Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 1988
Meeting date: 19881107Nov. 7-9, 1988
References: 31
Accession Number: 1992-022288
Categories: Structural geology
Document Type: Serial Conference document
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Annotation: IGCP Project No. 249
Illustration Description: illus. incl. 1 table, sketch maps
Secondary Affiliation: Univ. Nac. La Plata, ARG, ArgentinaUniv. Wien, AUT, Austria
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2017, American Geosciences Institute.
Update Code: 1992
Program Name: IGCPInternational Geological Correlation Programme
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