Isostatic and Dynamic Support of High Passive Margin Topography in Southern Scandinavia

Abstract:

Substantial controversy surrounds the origin of high topography along passive continental margins. We focus on the well-documented elevated passive margin in southern Scandinavia, and quantify the relative contributions of crustal isostasy and dynamic topography in controlling topography. We find that most topography is compensated by the crustal structure, suggesting a topographic age related to ~400 Myr old orogenesis. In addition, we infer that dynamic uplift (~300 m) has rejuvenated existing topography within the last ~10 Myr. Such uplift can, combined with a general sea level fall, explain observations that have traditionally been interpreted in favor of a peneplain uplift model. We conclude that the high topography along the Scandinavian margin cannot represent remnants of a peneplain uplifted within the last ~20 Myr. Topography must have been high since ~400 Myr. Our results demonstrate that the enigmatic topography on passive margins cannot be attributed to a single causal mechanism.