Abstract
Vertical land motion (VLM) of Earth’s surface can aggravate or mitigate
ongoing relative sea level change. The near-linear process of Glacial
Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) is normally assumed to govern regional VLM.
However, present-day deglaciation of primarily the Greenland Ice Sheet
causes a significant non-linear elastic uplift of >1 mm yr
−1 in most of the wider Arctic. The elastic VLM exceeds GIA at 14 of 42
Arctic GNSS-sites, including sites in non-glaciated areas in the North
Sea region and along the east coast of North America. The combined
elastic VLM + GIA model is consistent with measured VLM at three-fourth
of the GNSS-sites (R=0.74), which outperforms a GIA-only model (R=0.60).
Deviations from GNSS-measured VLM, are interpreted as estimates of local
circumstances causing VLM. Future accelerated ice loss on Greenland,
will increase the significance of elastic uplift for North America and
Northern Europe and become important for coastal sea level projections.