A Lower Mantle Source for Central European Volcanism.
Cenozoic rifting and volcanism in Europe have been associated with either passive or active mantle upwellings. Tomographic images show a low velocity structure between 660- and 2000-kilometer depth, which we propose to represent a lower mantle upwelling under central Europe that may feed smaller upper-mantle plumes. The position of the rift zones in the foreland of the Alpine belts and the relatively weak volcanism compared to other regions with plume-associated volcanism are probably the result of the past and present subduction under southern Europe.
Goes
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Vening Meinesz Research School of Geodynamics, Utrecht University, Post Office Box 80.021, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands.
Spakman
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Bijwaard
H