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Three‐dimensional density modeling of the EGM2008 gravity field over the Mount Paekdu volcanic area
Author(s) -
Choi Sungchan,
Oh ChangWhan,
Götze H.J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.983
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 2169-9356
pISSN - 2169-9313
DOI - 10.1002/jgrb.50266
Subject(s) - geology , bouguer anomaly , volcano , mount , magma , magma chamber , seismology , stratovolcano , gravity anomaly , free air gravity anomaly , crust , geodesy , geomorphology , geophysics , pyroclastic rock , paleontology , oil field , computer science , operating system
Here we use the global gravity field data set EGM2008 for 3‐D crustal density modeling of the Mount Paekdu stratovolcano and surrounding area located on the border between North Korea and China. Curvature analysis and Euler deconvolution are used to assist interpretation, and the 3‐D model is constrained by multiple geological and geophysical data sets. Mount Paekdu is characterized by a low Bouguer anomaly of −110 × 10 −5 m/s 2 , which is caused by the combined gravity effects of (1) a depth to the Moho of about 40 km, (2) a zone with lower P wave velocity and density than the surrounding, (3) low density volcanic rocks on the surface, and (4) the presence of a magma chamber that has not previously been identified. The modeled magma chamber has a mean thickness of 5 km and a density of about 2350 kg/m 3 and is located <10 km from the surface. Magma chambers are also modeled beneath Mount Wangtian and Mount Nampotae. However, the results of the 3‐D density modeling do not confirm the existence of a previously proposed midcrustal low‐velocity zone in the area 70 km to the north of Mount Paekdu. Since the Pliocene, volcanic activity in the Mount Paekdu region has migrated from the east coast of North Korea to the northwest, following the path of NW‐SE trending faults.