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The negative gravity field over the 85 deg E ridgeTwo north-south ridges in the basement topography of the Bay of Bengal may be observed on an isopach map at 85 and at 90 deg E. Free-air gravity anomaly profiles across the region show a strong gravity low (about -60 mGal) over the 85 deg E ridge, and a gravity high over the other. Using a simple two-stage loading model, the negative gravity anomaly over the 85 deg E ridge is explained as a direct consequence of sediment loading, and the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere when the ridge was formed is estimated to have been about 180 times less than the flexural rigidity during the sediment loading. An approximate relationship between flexural rigidity and crustal age shows that the 85 deg E ridge was formed on relatively young lithosphere, 5-15 million years old, and that it was buried when the lithosphere was 40-80 million years old. The alteration of the gravity field by a thick layer of sediments may occur in other large sedimentary basins or along continental margins.
Document ID
19820060864
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Liu, C.-S.
(California Univ. La Jolla, CA, United States)
Curray, J. R.
(California, University La Jolla, CA, United States)
Sandwell, D. T.
(NOAA, National Ocean Survey, Rockville MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
September 10, 1982
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 87
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
82A44399
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-152
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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