First deep seismic reflection images of the Eastern Alps reveal giant crustal wedges and transcrustal ramps

[1] The Alps are considered as a classical example for an orogen created by continental plate collision. In this study we present new images obtained from deep seismic reflection profiling in the Eastern Alps between Munich and Venice which give rise to examine and revise existing concepts. The seismic sections exhibit a prominent bi- verging reflection pattern at crustal scale. A major ramp- like structure, outcropping at the Inn- Valley fault, can be traced southward over 80 km into the mountain root where relics of the subducted Penninic ocean are expected. New models of the evolution of the Eastern Alps show an upper/ lower crustal decoupling along transcrustal thrust faults with opposite thrust directions of both the European and the Adriatic- African continents.

@article{id196,
  author = {Gebrande, H. and L\"uschen, E. and Bopp, M. and Bleibinhaus, F. and Lammerer, B. and Oncken, O. and Stiller, M. and Kummerow, J. and Kind, R. and Millahn, K. and Grassl, H. and Neubauer, F. and Bertelli, L. and Borrini, D. and Fantoni, R. and Pessina, C. and Sella, M. and Castellarin, A. and Nicolich, R. and Mazzotti, A. and Bernabini, M.},
  doi = {10.1029/2002GL014911},
  journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
  language = {en},
  number = {10},
  pages = {92.1-92.4},
  title = {First deep seismic reflection images of the Eastern Alps reveal giant crustal wedges and transcrustal ramps},
  volume = {29},
  year = {2002},
}

%O Journal Article
%A Gebrande, H.
%A Lüschen, E.
%A Bopp, M.
%A Bleibinhaus, F.
%A Lammerer, B.
%A Oncken, O.
%A Stiller, M.
%A Kummerow, J.
%A Kind, R.
%A Millahn, K.
%A Grassl, H.
%A Neubauer, F.
%A Bertelli, L.
%A Borrini, D.
%A Fantoni, R.
%A Pessina, C.
%A Sella, M.
%A Castellarin, A.
%A Nicolich, R.
%A Mazzotti, A.
%A Bernabini, M.
%R 10.1029/2002GL014911
%J Geophysical Research Letters
%G en
%N 10
%P 92.1-92.4
%T First deep seismic reflection images of the Eastern Alps reveal giant crustal wedges and transcrustal ramps
%V 29
%D 2002