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Geodetic constraints on glacial isostatic adjustment in Europe
Author(s) -
Nocquet J.M.,
Calais E.,
Parsons B.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2004gl022174
Subject(s) - post glacial rebound , geology , geodesy , geodetic datum , subsidence , glacial period , tectonic uplift , global positioning system , deformation (meteorology) , geomorphology , seismology , tectonics , oceanography , structural basin , telecommunications , computer science
Direct measurements of surface deformation due to Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) in Europe have been so far mostly limited to the present‐day uplift area. Here, we use permanent GPS networks results to investigate the significance of GIA effects in Europe south of Fennoscandia. We show that uplift in Fennoscandia is surrounded by subsidence reaching as far south as the Alps, with a maximum vertical rate of 1.5 mm/yr between 50.5–53°N. Horizontal velocity gradients show shortening between Fennoscandia and north‐central Europe with strain rates of ∼10 −9 yr −1 and principal compressional strain axis pointing to the Gulf of Bothnia in a radial pattern. We find a very good quantitative agreement with the 3D surface displacement predicted by Milne et al. (2001), although the increase of misfit in far‐field of Fennoscandia suggests that geodetic data outside of the uplift area may bring additional constraints to the rheological parameters used in GIA models.