Neotectonics

Abstract

Neotectonics is the study of “young” tectonic movements, subsequent to the establishment of the contemporary stress (or seismotectonic) regime in the area of study. This means that neotectonics covers the tectonics of currently active structures, as well as some Neogene structures that may no longer be active. At the macroscale, neotectonics describes the Neogene movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates (see Plate Tectonics). At the mesoscale, it describes vertical and lateral movements of mountain chains such as the Himalaya, and vertical isostatic movements. At the microscale, it deals with the movement on individual faults (see Fault) and folds, with dimensions as small as a few kilometers.