3D gravity modeling of Buyuk Menderes basin in Western Anatolia using parabolic density function

Abstract

A method to model 3D sedimentary basins with parabolic density contrast is applied to Buyuk Menderes basin in Western Anatolia. The measured gravity fields, reduced to a horizontal plane, are assumed to be available at grid nodes of a rectangular/square mesh. juxtaposed 3D vertical prisms with their geometrical epicenters on top coincide with grid nodes of a mesh to approximate a sedimentary basin. The algorithm based on Newton's forward difference formula automatically calculates the initial depth estimates of a sedimentary basin assuming that 2D infinite horizontal slabs can generate the measured gravity fields and among these slabs the density contrast varies with depth. The lower boundary of a sedimentary basin is formulated by estimating the depth values of the 3D prisms with in predetermined limits. Measured gravity fields pertaining to the Buyuk Menderes basin, Turkey, where the density contrast varies with depth, are interpreted to show the applicability of the method. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.