Upper Mantle Dynamics and
Quaternary Climate in Cratonic Areas
International Lithosphere Program (ILP) Regional Co-ordination
Committee CC
1/5
Geodesy, geodynamics, ocean dynamics
An important aspect is to construct and improve coupled models of
glaciation and land uplift history, using both forward and inverse
modelling. Geodesy provides accurate measurements of contemporary
deformation and gravity change. There are systematic postglacial uplift
observations for more than 100 years based on repeated precise
levelling, geodetic high-resolution observations of recent movements,
gravity change and possibilities to monitor postglacial faults.
Geologically, the uplift is documented in ancient shorelines but
the precise timing of the shorelines may become a limiting factor.
Space geodetic techniques, such as GPS, allow the construction of 3-D motions from relatively short (less than 10 years) time series. This was demonstrated in the BIFROST project and other regional studies . Differences between models and observations for some regions possibly indicate an additional component in the uplift process. Crustal deformation and sea level variation studies are based on stable reference frames. If one wants to study effects on a 1 mm/yr level, stability of 0.1 mm/yr in reference frames are needed over several decades. Such stability is not yet achieved. Geodesy’s response to the requirement is the Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), a project of the International Association of Geodesy, (IAG). Gravity satellites GRACE and GOCE are already providing or will provide additional global and regional constraints on the gravity field
Space geodetic techniques, such as GPS, allow the construction of 3-D motions from relatively short (less than 10 years) time series. This was demonstrated in the BIFROST project and other regional studies . Differences between models and observations for some regions possibly indicate an additional component in the uplift process. Crustal deformation and sea level variation studies are based on stable reference frames. If one wants to study effects on a 1 mm/yr level, stability of 0.1 mm/yr in reference frames are needed over several decades. Such stability is not yet achieved. Geodesy’s response to the requirement is the Geodetic Observing System (GGOS), a project of the International Association of Geodesy, (IAG). Gravity satellites GRACE and GOCE are already providing or will provide additional global and regional constraints on the gravity field