Unravelling the Sources and Causative Factors for the Indian Ocean Geoid Low and the Indo-Australian Intraplate Deformation in the Northern Indian Ocean through Constrained Potential Field Modelling

This thesis examines the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL), one of the most significant geoid anomalies on Earth. The study shows that a combination of deep mantle slab remnants and shallow low-density structures beneath the Indian Ocean causes this anomaly. It also investigates active deformation within the Indo-Australian Plate, revealing how lithospheric thinning, structural weaknesses, and past mantle plume activity contribute to ongoing tectonic fragmentation. Using satellite gravity data, seismic tomography, and numerical modelling, the research provides new insights into the interaction between mantle dynamics and plate deformation, advancing our understanding of Earth’s interior and intraplate tectonics.