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The post-glacial landscape evolution of the North German Basin: morphology, neotectonics and crustal deformation

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Abstract

The recent evolution of the north German Basin (NGB), which is presently a low-seismic area, was partly affected by glacial loading and unloading of the ice masses. Major stresses acting within the NGB are induced by the North-Atlantic ridge push, the ongoing Alpine collision, and the post-glacial rebound of Fennoscandia. Present-day horizontal stresses within the NGB are directed generally NW–SE, but fan and bend north of 52°N towards NNE. Major basement faults are directed NW–SE, minor faults NE–SW and NNE–SSW, and are clearly detectable in geomorphological and satellite lineaments. Furthermore, the drainage pattern and the distribution of lakes in northern Germany follow exactly block boundaries and, hence, mark zones of present-day subsidence. The understanding of the post-glacial morphology and reactivation of faults requires a view into the very heterogeneous crust and upper mantle below the NGB. The re-adjustment of the individual fault blocks during post-glacial relaxation of the lithosphere leads to differential, crust-dependent uplift and, probably, to the formation of Urstrom valleys. The Urstrom valleys and terminal moraines in northern Germany appear to parallel the major tectonic lineaments and lithospheric “block” boundaries. The lithospheric memory is expressed in the post-glacial landscape evolution of the NGB.

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Acknowledgements

This is publication GEOTECH-174 in the frame of the “Geotechnologien” and SPP 1135. Financial support from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft is gratefully acknowledged (project Re 1361/4). Constructive reviews by H.-J. Franzke (Clausthal-Zellerfeld) and N.-A. Mörner (Stockholm) are gratefully appreciated.

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  1. Institut für Geophysik und Geologie, Universität Leipzig, Talstr. 30, 04103, Leipzig, Germany

    K. Reicherter

  2. Institut für Geophysik, Universität Hamburg, Bundesstr. 55, 20146, Hamburg, Germany

    A. Kaiser

  3. Landesamt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe Brandenburg, Stahnsdorfer Damm 77, 14532, Kleinmachnow, Germany

    W. Stackebrandt

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Reicherter, K., Kaiser, A. & Stackebrandt, W. The post-glacial landscape evolution of the North German Basin: morphology, neotectonics and crustal deformation. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 94, 1083–1093 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-005-0007-0

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