Gravity anomalies and flexure of the lithosphere: A three-dimensional study of the Great Meteor Seamount, northeast Atlantic

摘要

Simple models for the flexure of the lithosphere caused by the load of the Great Meteor seamount have been determined for different assumed values of the effective flexural rigidity of the lithosphere. The models utilize a new method for determining the flexure of the lithosphere caused by a three-dimensional load. The gravity effect of the models has been computed and compared with observed free-air anomalies in the vicinity of the seamount. Computations show that the observed free-air anomalies can be most satisfactorily explained for an assumed effective flexural rigidity of the lithosphere of about 6×10²⁹ dyn cm. This value, which is similar to other values determined for loads of different ages, suggests that the oceanic lithosphere is rigid enough to support applied loads for periods of time of at least several tens of millions of years.