How important are elastic deflections in the Fennoscandian postglacial uplift?

When a force is applied to the Earth's surface, there is an immediate elastic deformation, proportional to the stress. This paper reports the calculations of the elastic deflections caused by the unloading of the Late Weichselian ice sheets in Fennoscandia. The deflections caused by the unloading of the maximum Late Weichselian ice sheet are calculated to be 76 m in the central parts of the former glaciated area. This is less than 8% of the isostatic response in the same area. When taking into consideration that this displacement is gradually recovered as the Earth readjusts towards isostatic equilibrium, the elastic mechanism can be assumed to be of little importance for the overall postglacial uplift. Maximum elastic deflection in Fennoscandia is calculated to be a subsidence of 12 m in the central parts of the former glaciated area, and 4-5 m along the Norwegian coast, over the last 10,000 years.