Introduction to the special issue of DynaQlim (Upper Mantle Dynamics and Quaternary Climate in Cratonic Areas)

Introduction to the special issue of DynaQlim (Upper Mantle Dynamics and Quaternary Climate in Cratonic Areas)

Journal of Geodynamics 50 (2010) 1 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Geodynamics journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate...

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Journal of Geodynamics 50 (2010) 1

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of Geodynamics journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jog

Preface

Introduction to the special issue of DynaQlim (Upper Mantle Dynamics and Quaternary Climate in Cratonic Areas)

DynaQlim is a regional co-ordination committee of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP) scheduled to last from late 2007 to 2012. The purpose of the committee is to study the relationship between Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA), upper mantle structure, dynamics and Quaternary climate. It integrates existing data and models from a variety of disciplines that consider processes over a range of spatial and temporal scales relating to the Quaternary evolution as played out over cratonic-like solid Earth. A key aim is to facilitate the development of various models in order to generate more accurate predictions of Earth and ice sheet evolution during the Quaternary and, thus, to understand both past and contemporaneous evolution of broad-scale topography in previously glaciated terrains. As a result of the DynaQlim project we expect to have a more comprehensive understanding of the Earth’s response to glaciations, improved modelling of crustal and upper mantle dynamics and the rheology structure. DynaQlim deals with many categories comprising (i) geodesy, geodynamics and ocean dynamics; (ii) postglacial uplift, contemporary movements and gravity; (iii) dynamic ice sheets and glaciology; (iv) quaternary palaeoenvironments and climate; neotectonics and seismotectonics; and (v) dynamics, structure, properties and composition of the lithosphere. The kick-off meeting was arranged in Copenhagen in February 2008, followed by sessions during the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly in Vienna, April 2008 and 2009. The papers

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in this special issue of the Journal of Geodynamics reflect topics presented at the kick-off meeting and at EGU. The paper of Poutanen and Ivins gives a short summary of the topic, two other papers (Lidberg et al. and Scherneck et al.) deal with geodetic observations on the postglacial rebound area, the paper of Gregersen and Voss is on the seismological phenomena related to the GIA, whereas last two papers, Kollo and Vermeer, and van der Wal et al. deal with more theoretical aspects of the GIA. The guest editors would like to thank all authors and reviewers for their contributions and the whole DynaQlim community for their support and participation in the project. Markku Poutanen ∗ Finnish Geodetic Institute, Geodeetinrinne 2, 02430 Masala, Finland Erik R. Ivins Caltech, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail address: Markku.Poutanen@fgi.fi (M. Poutanen)

18 January 2010