An Asthenospheric Upwelling Beneath Central Mongolia: Implications for Intraplate Surface Uplift and Volcanism
Matthew J. Comeau (Universität Münster)
Michael Becken (Universität Münster)
Alexey Kuvshinov (ETH Zürich)
Alexander V. Grayver (ETH Zürich)
Johannes Käufl (ETH Zürich)
Erdenechimeg Batmagnai (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)
Shoovdor Tserendug (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)
Sodnomsambuu Demberel (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)
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Abstract
Intraplate processes, such as continental surface uplift and intraplate volcanism, are enigmatic and the underlying mechanisms responsible are not fully understood. Central Mongolia is an ideal natural laboratory for studying such processes because of its location in the continental interior far from tectonic plate boundaries, its high-elevation plateau, and its widespread, low-volume, basaltic volcanism. The processes responsible for developing this region remain largely unexplained —due in part to a lack of high-resolution geophysical studies —and thus are open questions.