Space-Geodetic Constraints on Glacial Isostatic Adjustment in Fennoscandia

Analysis of Global Positioning System (GPS) data demonstrates that ongoing three-dimensional crustal deformation in Fennoscandia is dominated by glacial isostatic adjustment. Our comparison of these GPS observations with numerical predictions yields an Earth model that satisfies independent geologic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Milne, G. A., Davis, J. L., Mitrovica, Jerry X., Scherneck, H.-G., Johansson, J. M., Vermeer, M., Koivula, H.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2001
Subjects:
Fennoscandia
Fennoscandian
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1057022
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1057022
Description
Summary:Analysis of Global Positioning System (GPS) data demonstrates that ongoing three-dimensional crustal deformation in Fennoscandia is dominated by glacial isostatic adjustment. Our comparison of these GPS observations with numerical predictions yields an Earth model that satisfies independent geologic constraints and bounds both the average viscosity in the upper mantle (5 × 10 20 to 1 × 10 21 pascal seconds) and the elastic thickness of the lithosphere (90 to 170 kilometers). We combined GPS-derived radial motions with Fennoscandian tide gauge records to estimate a regional sea surface rise of 2.1 ± 0.3 mm/year. Furthermore, ongoing horizontal tectonic motions greater than ∼1 mm/year are ruled out on the basis of the GPS-derived three-dimensional crustal velocity field.

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