The changing role of the lithosphere in models of glacial isostasy : a historical review

Abstract

During the last 125 years, the role of the lithosphere in models of glacial-isostatic adjustment experienced several changes. Following the postulation of glacial isostasy by Jamieson in 1865, the lithosphere was generally regarded as comparable in importance for the adjustment process to the fluid substratum. This changed with the initiation of quantitative modelling by Van Bemmelen and Berlage and by Haskell in 1935, whereupon effects due to the lithosphere were commonly neglected in interpretations of postglacial uplift for 30 years. After the development of a layered viscous earth model with an elastic surface layer by McConnell in 1965, the lithosphere was eventually reintroduced into models of glacial isostasy. Subsequent studies largely confirmed the original ideas regarding the importance of the lithosphere for the adjustment process, although the effects are pronounced only for short-wavelength deformations. Using this response characteristic of the lithosphere, estimates of its thickness have recently become available for several tectonic provinces.