Glacially Triggered Faulting

doi:10.1017/9781108779906.003

1 - Glacially Triggered Faulting

A Historical Overview and Recent Developments

from Part I - Introduction

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2021

Odleiv Olesen and

Edited by

Odleiv Olesen and

Holger Steffen: Affiliation:
Lantmäteriet, Sweden
Odleiv Olesen: Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Norway
Raimo Sutinen: Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Finland

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Summary

Glacially triggered faulting, also called glacially induced faulting or postglacial faulting, describes fault movement caused by a combination of tectonic and glacially induced isostatic stresses. Stresses induced by the advance and retreat of an ice sheet are thought to be released during or after ice melting and reactivate pre-existing faults. The most impressive fault scarps that witness such activity, are found in Northern Europe. It was assumed these features are unique. This view has changed recently as new faults were discovered – even outside the former glaciated area – and fault activity dating showed several phases of reactivation thousands of years after deglaciation ended. This book summarizes the research until the very recent findings. It reviews the theoretic aspects, i.e. the knowledge to understand the presence of glacially induced fault structures, followed by an overview of geological, geophysical, geodetic and geomorphological investigations methods, a summary of all known glacially induced faults worldwide and an outline for modelling of these stresses and faults.

Keywords

Glacially Induced Fault Postglacial Fault Glacially Triggered Faulting Glacial Isostatic Adjustment Postglacial Rebound Neotectonics Seismicity Classification Criteria History

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Information: Glacially-Triggered Faulting , pp. 3 - 19

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108779906.003 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2021

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