On the robustness of estimates of mechanical anisotropy in the continental lithosphere: A North American case study and global reanalysis

- We test the robustness of measurements of mechanical anisotropy in the lithosphere.
- Synthetic tests on wholly isotropic models find high levels of spurious anisotropy.
- Anisotropy in gravity and topography and the spectral analysis both produce artefacts.
- Statistical hypothesis tests detect and remove spurious elastic thickness anisotropy.
- Global elastic thickness results show little robust evidence of mechanical anisotropy.