Tectonic uplift: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Kupe's Sail-20070331.jpg|thumb|[[Kupe's Sail]] at Palliser Bay in New Zealand{{clarify |date=January 2017 |reason=clarify how the content of this photo is relevant to tectonic uplift}}]]

'''Tectonic uplift''' is the portion of the total geologic [[uplift]] of the mean Earth surface[[ground]] that is not attributableattributed to an [[isostasy|isostatic]]plate response to [[denudation|unloadingtectonics]].{{fact|date=February 2018}} While isostatic response is important, an increase in the mean elevation of a region can only occur in response to tectonic processes of [[crustal thickening]] (such as [[mountain building]] events), changes in the density distribution of the crust and underlying [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]], and flexural support due to the bending of rigid [[lithosphere]].

One should also take into consideration the effects of [[denudation]] (processes that wear away the earth's surface). Within the scope of this topic, uplift relates to denudation in that denudation brings buried rocks closer to the surface. This process can redistribute large loads from an elevated region to a topographically lower area as well – thus promoting an isostatic response in the region of denudation (which can cause local bedrock uplift). The timing, magnitude, and rate of denudation can be estimated by geologists using pressure-temperature studies.