CONTEMPORARY CRUSTAL MOVEMENTS IN CANADA

Present knowledge of the patterns and causes of contemporary aseismic movements of the crust in Canada is reviewed. Modern and paleo water-level data and geodetic releveling data are being used to delineate the regional pattern of vertical movements, but equivalent data on regional horizontal movements are not yet available. The first steps are being taken to relate the emerging regional pattern of vertical movement in Canada to the interactions on the western margin of the America plate and to the spatial variations in seismicity, gravity field, and crustal stress in the plate interior. The level of research activity on local aseismic movements in different areas of Canada corresponds to the seismotectonic significance of the areas.