Gravity Anomalies and Crustal Thickness Variations over the Western Ghats

Abstract

The Western Ghats (WG), a topographic scarp facing towards the west coast of India and extending over diverse geological terranes – Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP), Dharwar Craton (DC) and Southern Granulite Terrain (SGT), is an enigmatic geomorphic feature. WG is characterized by low gravity anomalies. In order to decipher the sources of gravity anomalies, we have decomposed the gravity anomalies using wavelength filter and have obtained estimates of the depth to crust-mantle boundary (CMB) under WG and surrounding regions from the inversion of gravity data, which is compared with seismically determined CMB estimates. Overall, the CMB depth varies from 33 to 50 km, which is consistent with seismically determined values, except in the region of shear zones between DC and SGT probably indicating a different density contrast at CMB. The major source of gravity low is found to be the deepening of CMB under the WG compared to adjacent regions regardless of surface lithology. The CMB depths under WG and surrounding region generally approximate the CMB depths estimated for low strength flexural isostatic models, which suggests that flexural compensation of uplifted topography, later modified by tectonic and denudation processes, is a likely development model for the Western Ghats.