Open AccessA geophysical study of the Rhinegraben — I. Kinematics and geothermics
Author(s) -
Werner Dietrich,
Kahle HansGert
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1980.tb02595.x
Subject(s) - geophysics , geology , lithosphere , mantle (geology) , kinematics , crust , rift , gravity anomaly , geodesy , seismology , tectonics , physics , classical mechanics , paleontology , oil field
Summary The temperature distribution beneath the Rhinegraben area is constrained by independent geophysical findings: (a) the gravity field and its relation to the crust/mantle boundary, (b) the thinning of the lithosphere. The interrelationships between these geophysical properties are discussed. An attempt is made to construct the temperature field as a result of a kinematic model. It is postulated that hot mantle material has been rising during the rifting process. The mass displacement is of the order of 1 mm yr −1 . In order to determine the transient temperature field the differential equation of heat transport in a moving medium is solved by a two‐dimensional numerical method. The resulting lateral temperature differences reach values of about 350°. This deep‐reaching thermal anomaly is compared with other geophysical findings relevant to temperature. It is shown that it matches well with the pronounced elevated asthenosphere. Taking into account the temperature dependence of density it can be demonstrated that the thermally induced gravity effect serves as gravitational compensation for the upwarped upper mantle (see also part II of this paper, Kahle & Werner 1980).