The satellite derived gravity field in the South China Sea is analyzed together with constraining information on the crustal thickness derived from seismics, to infer the crustal thickness variations over the entire area. We analyze the crustal thickness variations in terms of the compatibility with the lithospheric flexure model with laterally variable elastic thickness, adopting the ETOPO5 bathymetry as the starting load. The resulting elastic thickness variations are studied in relation to the different geodynamic areas involved, considering also the seismicity. The flexure analysis allows to correct the starting bathymetric model according to the observed gravity field, where information on bathymetry values along shiptracks are also considered.
