A three-dimensional density model of the European lithosphere: II.

A three-dimensional crustal density model consisting of three regional laye rs (seawater, sediments, and consolidated crust) is constructed for the Eur opean continent crust and part of the North Atlantic, its gravity effect is calculated, and the isostatic adjustment of the crust is estimated. Altern ating low-amplitude (several milligals) residual anomalies mainly caused by the density inhomogeneity of the upper subcrustal layer of the mantle were obtained by subtracting the crustal model effect from the observed gravity field. The mantle nature of the residual anomalies is corroborated by thei r close correlation with the upper mantle inhomogeneities recognized from s eismological and geothermal data. Tectonic structures of the continent are classified in accordance with the mantle anomaly patterns, types of the iso static adjustment, crustal structure, and supposed types of the endogenous regime.