Topographic evolution and source-to-sink relationships in Western Norway. A multi-method approach
PhD candidate: Åse Hestnes
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SUPERVISION
Joachim Jacobs (UiB-GEO), Deta Gasser (HVL), Thomas Scheiber (HVL), Anna Ksienzyk (NGU), Henriette Linge (UiB-GEO), Tor Sømme (UiB-GEO/Equinor)
PROJECT PERIOD
2019-2022
RESEARCH GOALS, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This multidisciplinary project aims at developing a large-scale structural, thermal and geomorphological model for the highly debated post-Caledonian topographic evolution of the western Norwegian margin. The results of this project will give important insights into (a) the basement structure offshore and (b) source-to-sink relationships such as the timing and amount of erosion pulses and sediment transport into offshore basins. The project will therewith increase our knowledge of the structure and development of the Norwegian continental shelf.
The following questions will be investigated in detail:
a. Did the main topographic high behave as a coherent structural block or are there other important brittle faults between the MTFC, the NSD and the LGF?
b. Can the distribution of low-relief surfaces, the geometry of river profiles and drainage patterns be explained by structurally controlled offsets or is the geomorphology of the region in better agreement with a mainly glacial origin, unrelated to the crustal structural framework?
c. Can a denser horizontal and vertical network of apatite fission track and U/Th/He dates be used to distinguish between slow and steady exhumation versus uplift pulses caused by fault reactivation?