Modelling Moho depth in ocean areas based on satellite altimetry using Vening Meinesz–Moritz’ method

Abstract

An experiment for estimating Moho depth is carried out based on satellite altimetryand topographic information using the Vening Meinesz–Moritz gravimetric isostatichypothesis. In order to investigate the possibility and quality of satellite altimetry in Mohodetermination, the DNSC08GRA global marine gravity field model and the DTM2006 globaltopography model are used to obtain a global Moho depth model over the oceans with aresolution of 1 x 1 degree. The numerical results show that the estimated Bouguer gravity disturbancevaries from 86 to 767 mGal, with a global average of 747 mGal, and the estimatedMoho depth varies from 3 to 39 km with a global average of 19 km. Comparing the Bouguergravity disturbance estimated from satellite altimetry and that derived by the gravimetricsatellite-only model GOGRA04S shows that the two models agree to 13 mGal in root meansquare (RMS). Similarly, the estimated Moho depths from satellite altimetry andGOGRA04S agree to 0.69 km in RMS. It is also concluded that possible mean dynamictopography in the marine gravity model does not significantly affect the Moho determination.