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Large‐scale ground deformation in Iceland is dominated by extensional plate‐boundary deformation, where the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge crosses the island, and by uplift due to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) from thinning and retreat of glaciers. While this deformation is mostly steady over multiple years, it is modulated by smaller‐scale transient deformation associated with, for example, earthquakes, volcanic unrest, and geothermal exploitation. Here, we combine countrywide Sentinel‐1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data (from six tracks) from 2015 to 2021 with continuous Global Navigation Satellite System observations to produce time series of displacements across Iceland. The InSAR results were improved in a two‐step tropospheric mitigation procedure, using (a) global atmospheric models to reduce long‐wavelength and topography‐correlated tropospheric signals, and (b) modeling of the stochastic properties of the residual troposphere. Our results significantly improve upon earlier countrywide InSAR results, which were based on InSAR stacking, as we use more data, better data weighting, and advanced InSAR corrections to produce time series of ground displacements instead of just velocities. We fuse the three ascending and three descending track results to estimate maps of East and Up velocities, which clearly show the large‐scale extension and GIA deformation. Using revised plate‐spreading and GIA models, based on these new ground velocity maps, we remove the large‐scale and steady deformation from the InSAR time series and analyze the remaining transient deformations. Our results demonstrate the importance of (a) mitigating InSAR tropospheric signals over Iceland and of (b) solving for time series of deformation, not just velocities, as multiple transient deformation processes are present. Plain Language Summary: Iceland is continuously deforming due to multiple processes across the country, including both large‐scale plate spreading and smaller‐scale transient processes. In this paper, we use 7 years (2015–2021) of Sentinel‐1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data to map in high‐resolution the ground displacements in Iceland to study both the long‐term and short‐term geodynamic activity. Horizontal movements associated with plate spreading and uplift caused by thinning and retreat of glaciers dominate the observed displacement field. After removing the large‐scale movements from the displacement results using modeled displacements, we analyze local deformation associated with earthquakes, slope instability, and volcanic and geothermal processes. Our study demonstrates the capability of InSAR in studying nationwide spatio‐temporal geodynamic processes. Key Points: Time series of countrywide displacements over Iceland from 2015 to 2021 derived by integrating Sentinel‐1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and GPS observationsA two‐step InSAR tropospheric correction method used to mitigate both short‐wavelength and long‐wavelength tropospheric effectsResults dominated by plate spreading and glacial isostatic adjustment with numerous other smaller‐scale signals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative sea-level (RSL) records from far-field regions distal from ice sheets remain poorly understood, particularly in the early Holocene. Here, we extended the Holocene RSL data from Singapore by producing early Holocene sea-level index points (SLIPs) and limiting dates from a new ~40 m sediment core. We merged new and published RSL data to construct a standardized Singapore RSL database consisting of 88 SLIPs and limiting data. In the early Holocene, RSL rose rapidly from −21.0 to −0.7 m from ~9500 to 7000 cal. yrs. BP. Thereafter, the rate of RSL rise decelerated, reaching a mid-Holocene highstand of 4.0 ± 4.5 m at 5100 cal. yrs. BP, before falling to its present level. There is no evidence of any inflections in RSL when the full uncertainty of SLIPs is considered. When combined with other standardized data from the Malay-Thai Peninsula, our results also show substantial misfits between regional RSL reconstructions and glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) model predictions in the rate of early Holocene RSL rise, the timing of the mid-Holocene highstand and the nature of late-Holocene RSL fall towards the present. It is presently unknown whether these misfits are caused by regional processes, such as subsidence of the continental shelf, or inaccurate parameters used in the GIA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present new evidence for neotectonic activity along the Harz Boundary Fault, a Cretaceous reverse fault that represents a key structure in northern Germany. For the fault analysis, we use a multimethod approach, integrating outcrop data, luminescene dating, shear wave seismics, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and numerical simulations. A recent sinkhole at the SSW-ward dipping and WNW–ESE striking Harz Boundary Fault exposes a NNE-ward dipping and WNW–ESE striking planar fault surface that cuts through unconsolidated debris-flow deposits thus pointing to young Lateglacial tectonic activity. The fault shows a polyphase evolution with initial normal fault movement and a later reactivation as an oblique fault with reverse and strike-slip components. A shear wave seismic profile was acquired to analyse the geometry of the fault and show that the Harz Boundary Fault is steeply dipping and likely has branches. Partly, these branches propagate into overlying alluvial-fan deposits that are probably Pleniglacial to Lateglacial in age. The outcrop data in combination with the seismic data give evidence for a splay fault system with steep back-thrusts. One of these back-thrusts is most likely the NNE-ward dipping fault that is exposed in the sinkhole. The lateral extent of the fault was mapped with electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles. The timing of fault movement was estimated based on optically stimulated luminescence dating of the faulted debris-flow deposits using both quartz and feldspar minerals. Consistent feldspar and quartz ages indicate a good bleaching of the sediment prior to deposition. The results imply fault movements post-dating ~ 15 ka. Numerical simulations of glacio isostatic adjustment (GIA)-related changes in the Coulomb failure stress regime at the Harz Boundary Fault underpin the assumption that the fault was reactivated during the Lateglacial due to stress changes induced by the decay of the Late Pleistocene (Weichselian) Fennoscandian ice sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study examining the late-Holocene Epoch sea level based on a reconstruction from a salt marsh in the Malltraeth estuary in North Wales. Information is provided on how the research can inform modeling of past and future relative sea-level changes in the British Isles.

New precise network solutions for continuous GPS (cGPS) stations distributed in eastern Ontario and western Québec provide constraints on the regional three-dimensional crustal velocity field. Five years of continuous observations at fourteen cGPS sites were analyzed using Bernese GPS processing software. Several different sub-networks were chosen from these stations, and the data were processed and compared to in order to select the optimal configuration to accurately estimate the vertical and horizontal station velocities and minimize the associated errors. The coordinate time series were then compared to the crustal motions from global solutions and the optimized solution is presented here. A noise analysis model with power-law and white noise, which best describes the noise characteristics of all three components, was employed for the GPS time series analysis. The linear trend, associated uncertainties, and the spectral index of the power-law noise were calculated using a maximum likelihood estimation approach. The residual horizontal velocities, after removal of rigid plate motion, have a magnitude consistent with expected glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). The vertical velocities increase from subsidence of almost 1.9 mm/year south of the Great Lakes to uplift near Hudson Bay, where the highest rate is approximately 10.9 mm/year. The residual horizontal velocities range from approximately 0.5 mm/year, oriented south-southeastward, at the Great Lakes to nearly 1.5 mm/year directed toward the interior of Hudson Bay at stations adjacent to its shoreline. Here, the velocity uncertainties are estimated at less than 0.6 mm/year for the horizontal component and 1.1 mm/year for the vertical component. A comparison between the observed velocities and GIA model predictions, for a limited range of Earth models, shows a better fit to the observations for the Earth model with the smallest upper mantle viscosity and the largest lower mantle viscosity. However, the pattern of horizontal deformation is not well explained in the north, along Hudson Bay, suggesting that revisions to the ice thickness history are needed to improve the fit to observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nordic countries Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark are a key study region for research of glacial isostasy. In addition, such research offers a unique opportunity for absolute gravimetry to show its capability as a geodetic tool for geophysical research. Within a multi-national cooperation, annual absolute gravity measurements have been performed in Fennoscandia by IfE since 2003. For the Hanover gravimeter FG5-220, overall accuracy of ±30 nm/s is indicated for a single station determination. First results of linear gravity changes are derived for ten stations in the central and southern part of the uplift area. Comparing with the rates predicted by glacial rebound modelling, the gravity trends of the absolute measurements differ by 3.8 nm/s per year (root-mean-square discrepancy) from the uplift model. The mean difference between observed and predicted rates is 0.8 nm/s per year only. A proportionality factor of −1.63 ± 0.20 nm/s per mm has been obtained, which describes the mean ratio between the observational gravity and height rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of accurate models of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is presently a priority need in climate studies, largely due to the potential of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data to be used to determine accurate and continent-wide assessments of ice mass change and hydrology. However, modelled GIA is uncertain due to insufficient constraints on our knowledge of past glacial changes and to large simplifications in the underlying Earth models. Consequently, we show differences between models that exceed several mm/year in terms of surface displacement for the two major ice sheets: Greenland and Antarctica. Geodetic measurements of surface displacement offer the potential for new constraints to be made on GIA models, especially when they are used to improve structural features of the Earth’s interior as to allow for a more realistic reconstruction of the glaciation history. We present the distribution of presently available campaign and continuous geodetic measurements in Greenland and Antarctica and summarise surface velocities published to date, showing substantial disagreement between techniques and GIA models alike. We review the current state-of-the-art in ground-based geodesy (GPS, VLBI, DORIS, SLR) in determining accurate and precise surface velocities. In particular, we focus on known areas of need in GPS observation level models and the terrestrial reference frame in order to advance geodetic observation precision/accuracy toward 0.1 mm/year and therefore further constrain models of GIA and subsequent present-day ice mass change estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many recent mass balance estimates using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and satellite altimetry (including two kinds of sensors of radar and laser) show that the ice mass of the Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) is in overall decline. However, there are still large differences among previously published estimates of the total mass change, even in the same observed periods. The considerable error sources mainly arise from the forward models (e.g., glacial isostatic adjustment [GIA] and firn compaction) that may be uncertain but indispensable to simulate some processes not directly measured or obtained by these observations. To minimize the use of these forward models, we estimate the mass change of ice sheet and present-day GIA using multi-geodetic observations, including GRACE and Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat), as well as Global Positioning System (GPS), by an improved method of joint inversion estimate (JIE), which enables us to solve simultaneously for the Antarctic GIA and ice mass trends. The GIA uplift rates generated from our JIE method show a good agreement with the elastic-corrected GPS uplift rates, and the total GIA-induced mass change estimate for the AIS is 54 ± 27 Gt/yr, which is in line with many recent GPS calibrated GIA estimates. Our GIA result displays the presence of significant uplift rates in the Amundsen Sea Embayment of West Antarctica, where strong uplift has been observed by GPS. Over the period February 2003 to October 2009, the entire AIS changed in mass by −84 ± 31 Gt/yr (West Antarctica: −69 ± 24, East Antarctica: 12 ± 16 and the Antarctic Peninsula: −27 ± 8), greater than the GRACE-only estimates obtained from three Mascon solutions (CSR: −50 ± 30, JPL: −71 ± 30, and GSFC: −51 ± 33 Gt/yr) for the same period. This may imply that single GRACE data tend to underestimate ice mass loss due to the signal leakage and attenuation errors of ice discharge are often worse than that of surface mass balance over the AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]