The influence of dynamically supported topography on estimates of Te

The effective elastic thickness, Te, of continental lithosphere can be estimated from the relationship between gravity and topography in the spectral domain. Two methods have been used, one of which depends on the coherence between Bouguer gravity anomalies and topography, whereas the other uses the transfer function, commonly known as the admittance, between the free air gravity and topography. The two methods give estimates of Te which differ by as much as an order of magnitude in those continental regions where variations in elevation are small. This problem has led to much controversy. An important concern is the extent to which estimates of Te are affected by dynamically maintained gravity and topography, arising from mantle convection and postglacial recovery. Unlike elastically supported anomalies, these processes can generate gravity and topographic long wavelength (> 500 km) anomalies. If such anomalies are modelled as being supported by elastic forces, the resulting values of Te are overestimated, often by a large amount.