The structure of the lithosphere–asthenosphere system as imaged from the complementary inversion of seismological and gravimetric data can provide significant clues to understand the processes of orogeny and cratonization and to better formulate the theory of plate tectonics within a sound geodynamic context. In this paper, we review some studies sharing a common synergic methodology that uses the geometry of cellular shear-wave velocity models of the crust and uppermost mantle to constrain a 3D density model obtained by means of linear inversion of gravimetric data. These studies, which were applied to selected areas along an ideal stream running from the Periadriatic region to the Himalayas, despite having different resolution, show some basic common features in the density distribution of the upper mantle whose unveiling may be precluded to gravity models achieved by assuming velocity–density relationships. In fact, one of the main conclusions of the discussed studies is that lithospheric slabs under the investigated orogenic belts, as identified by seismic wave velocity, are, as a rule, not marked by high density. This fact casts serious doubts about the effectiveness of slab-pull and confirms one of the key issues of polarized plate tectonics, mostly fuelled by tidal drag.

从地震学和重力数据的互补反演中获得的岩石圈-软流圈系统的结构可以提供重要的线索，以了解造山作用和克拉通作用的过程，并在合理的地球动力学背景下更好地阐述板块构造学说。在本文中，我们回顾了一些共享通用协同方法的研究，这些方法使用地壳和最上层地幔的细胞剪切波速度模型的几何形状来约束通过重量数据线性反演获得的3D密度模型。尽管分辨率不同，但这些研究仍沿沿从Periadriatic地区到Himalayas的理想河流应用于选定区域，在上地幔的密度分布中显示出一些基本的共同特征，其揭露可能被假定为速度-密度关系的重力模型所阻止。实际上，所讨论研究的主要结论之一是，在被调查造山带下的岩石圈平板，通常用高密度波来标明，而这些岩石圈是由地震波速度确定的。这一事实使人们对板拉的有效性产生严重怀疑，并证实了极化板块构造的主要问题之一，这主要是由潮汐阻力推动的。