Postglacial tectonics of the Scottish glacio-isostatic uplift centre

Abstract

New evidence combined with a detailed re-evaluation of postglacial fault movements, seismic activity and shoreline sequences suggests that the period of deglaciation and the early Holocene was more seismically active than the mid to Late Holocene. It is proposed that the large-scale lateral displacements formerly proposed can not be justified, rather all postglacial fault movements appear to be limited to metre-scale vertical movements along pre-existing fault lines. In addition, it is argued that the Younger Dryas ice advance may have produced localised crustal redepression but not the more widespread impact formerly proposed. Both tectonic and postglacial rebound stresses, however, may be needed to explain the contemporary seismotectonics of the Scottish Highlands.