Tibetan satellite magnetic low: Evidence for widespread melt in the Tibetan crust?

The Tibetan plateau is associated with a pronounced satellite magnetic low. Forward modeling of this anomaly demonstrates that the crust underlying th e Tibetan plateau is weakly magnetic compared to the crust on either side, and that the boundaries of the weakly magnetic region coincide closely with the topographic edges of the plateau (Himalaya, Run Lun). Because there ar e no obvious changes in the bulk magnetization of the crust associated with the principal terrane boundaries within the plateau (Banggong and Yarlung- Zangbo sutures), the low likely manifests hot crust beneath Tibet. Forward modeling of the magnetic anomaly with simple assumptions suggests that the Curie isotherm is likely to reside in the upper crust across the Tibetan pl ateau (similar to 15 km depth), implying that granite minimum melt temperat ure (similar to 600-650 degrees C) is also achieved in the upper crust acro ss the plateau (similar to 16-18 km depth). This inference is consistent wi th the shallow depth extent of earthquakes in Tibet, and with the recent su ggestion that melt may be areally widespread within the Tibetan crust.