intra-continental uplift; Mongolia; crust; magnetotellurics; three-dimensional models; upper mantle; electrical conductivity; Hangai Dome; upper mantle
Comeau Matthew J., Becken Michael, Käufl Johannes S., Grayver Alexander V., Kuvshinov Alexey V., Tserendug Shoovdor, Batmagnai Erdenechimeg, Demberel Sodnomsambuu (2020), Evidence for terrane boundaries and suture zones across Southern Mongolia detected with a 2-dimensional magnetotelluric transect, in
Earth, Planets and Space, 72(1), 5-5.
Käufl J S, Grayver A V, Comeau M J, Kuvshinov A V, Becken M, Kamm J, Batmagnai E, Demberel S (2020), Magnetotelluric multiscale 3-D inversion reveals crustal and upper mantle structure beneath the Hangai and Gobi-Altai region in Mongolia, in
Geophysical Journal International, 221(2), 1002-1028.
Käufl Johannes S, Grayver Alexander V, Kuvshinov Alexey V (2018), Topographic distortions of magnetotelluric transfer functions: a high-resolution 3-D modelling study using real elevation data, in
Geophysical Journal International, 215(3), 1943-1961.
Comeau Matthew J., Käufl Johannes S., Becken Michael, Kuvshinov Alexey, Grayver Alexander V., Kamm Jochen, Demberel Sodnomsambuu, Sukhbaatar Usnikh, Batmagnai Erdenechimeg (2018), Evidence for fluid and melt generation in response to an asthenospheric upwelling beneath the Hangai Dome, Mongolia, in
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 487, 201-209.
The Hangai Mountains Magnetotelluric Experiment: Data repository
Data repository, supplementary to Chapter 2 of the doctoral thesis: Crust-mantle interactions beneath the Hangai and Gobi-Altai Mountains, Mongolia Insights from an innovative magnetotelluric multi-scale survey and 3-D inversion ETH Zurich, Dissertation Nr. 26631
The Hangai Mountains Magnetotelluric Experiment: Inversion repository
Inversion data repository, supplementary to Chapter 4 of the doctoral thesis: Crust-mantle interactions beneath the Hangai and Gobi-Altai Mountains, Mongolia Insights from an innovative magnetotelluric multi-scale survey and 3-D inversion ETH Zurich, Dissertation Nr. 26631
Animation of the Hangai and Gobi-Altai resistivity model (Mongolia)
A video animation of the electrical resistivity model of the Hangai and Gobi-Altai region in Mongolia. The model was created with a multiscale inversion of magnetotelluric data. Measurement locations are shown by grey spheres. Additional geologic information is shown in the end of the video. Fault traces are shown by grey lines, cenozoic volcanism by red spheres, geothermal activity by light blue spheres and a geothermal high heat flow anomalies by an orange outline.
Lead There is consensus that plate tectonics explains many dynamic processes within and on Earth’s surface, including the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes at active plate boundaries. It, however, cannot predict uplifts far away from plate boundaries that occur in many regions of the world and whose origin remains enigmatic. The explanations are diverse and controversial and include, for example, a hot upwelling mantle, or lower crustal flow. One of the clearest appearances of such uplift is the Hangai Dome in Mongolia. While past and on-going geophysical studies have focused on gravity and seismology, magnetotelluric (MT) studies are still missing from the Hangai. MT data are particularly important, however, as these are the sole means of estimating crustal and upper mantle electrical conductivity, which is very sensitive to fluids and partial melt that are key components of the processes responsible for the intra-continental uplift.Aims of the research projectThe primary goal of the project is to understand the processes which led to the topography in the Hangai Mountains. To achieve this goal we will acquire, process, and invert MT data in western Mongolia in terms of three-dimensional (3D) conductivity models. The main expected output from the project is the first 3D geo-electrical model beneath the Hangai Dome. Interpreting this model jointly with other geophysical observations/models will shed light on the origin of intra-continental uplifts. Scientific and societal context of the research projectThe project aims to understand the processes responsible for developing dynamic topography in the Hangai Mountains and to place them within the larger framework of crust-mantle interactions and dynamic topography around the world.