Author
Aiken, Carlos Lynn VirgilIssue Date
1976Keywords
ArizonaBouguer anomalies
gravity anomalies
maps
regional
structural geology
structure
tectonics
terrain corrections
United States
cartography
Gravity anomalies -- Arizona
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The University of Arizona.Rights
Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Antevs Library, Department of Geosciences, and the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author or the department.Abstract
The Bouguer correction using a mean sea level reduction datum compensates the gravitational effect of the mass of the terrain above sea level. This correction generally results in long -wavelength Bouguer gravity anomalies if the mass of the terrain is isostatically compensated. These anomalies correlate with regional elevations, especially in areas with significant regional variations in elevation, such as western North America. The adverse effect of this correlation is that other anomalies of potential interest in a tectonic or geologic analysis may be overshadowed. To circumvent this problem in an analysis of gravity in Arizona, a residual Bouguer gravity anomaly map has been constructed for the state in which a trend surface of the elevation is used as the reduction datum in the Bouguer correction. Elevation values from topographic maps and not gravity station elevations have been used to prepare the regional elevation datum because station elevations do not adequately sample the range in elevations. Small- and large-wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomalies and trends of anomalies are brought out more clearly by the residual Bouguer gravity anomaly map than by previous gravity maps. The most prominent features in the residual anomalies are a strong gravity gradient 50 km wide striking west -northwest across southern Arizona and a large wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomaly low in the Coconino Plateau of northwest Arizona . The long-wavelength residual Bouguer gravity anomalies reflect lateral density variations in the crust and mantle that may be related to lateral temperature variations.Type
textDissertation-Reproduction (electronic)
Degree Name
Ph.D.Degree Level
doctoralDegree Program
Graduate CollegeGeosciences