Southwest Iberia uplift investigated by Flexural Modelling

Abstract

The recognition, mapping and dating of marine terraces in the SW corner of Portugal show that this region is being subjected to uplift, at a faster rate than other regions immediately to the north or to the east. In this study we investigate the connection between the Nubia-Iberia convergence and the uplift of the Algarve basin by modelling the flexural deformation due to compression along a vertical section of the lithosphere across the Algarve’s margin. The model is based on recent regional tectonic and stratigraphic interpretations which helped to define the limits of the several geological domains present in the area. Our main goal is to determine the amount of tectonic uplift that can attributed to the Nubia-Iberia convergence. By exploring the interplay between the amount of uplift and the rheology of the main structural domains we also aim to place constraints on the mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere