Abstract
Abstract Altimeter geoid profiles crossing trenches and island arcs typically exhibit a long-wavelength increase in geoidal height approaching the trench which, in many cases, reaches a maximum over the back-arc area. Bathymetry profiles across trenches show a similar regional increase in the mean depth of the ocean floor behind the trench. Filters corresponding to Airy and Pratt models of isostatic compensation were applied to bathymetry profiles crossing seven different trench systems in order to estimate how much of the observed geoid variation in these regions could be attributed to isostatically-compensated ocean-floor topography. The results indicate that short-wavelength, high-amplitude variations in the geoid, which in some cases account for over 50% of the total observed amplitude variation, can be reasonably reproduced assuming a Pratt model of isostatic compensation. An additional component of the geoid arises from the uncompensated outer rise seaward of the trench. It is therefore concluded that a large part of the geoid signal over trenches and island arcs may be related to variations in sea-floor topography. This topographic component should be removed from altimeter geoid profiles before using the data to infer details of the deeper structure of subduction zones.
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