Inverse modelling of extension and denudation in the East Irish Sea and surrounding areas

Epeirogenic uplift and denudation are difficult to quantify because, unlike basin subsidence, they do not leave an unambiguous record. In recent years, much research has been focussed an calculating regional denudation from sonic velocity measurements, from vitrinite reflectance profiles, and from fission track analyses. Here we show that inverse modelling of the remnant stratigraphy within extensional sedimentary basins yields estimates of denudation within a corridor which crosses the British Isles. For a variety of reasons, these estimates are minima but they do broadly agree with those determined by inversion of vitrinite reflectance profiles. Our results also demonstrate that denudation estimates from fission track analyses are meaningful. A combined stratigraphic and thermal indicator approach should now be used to map denudation across different continents. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.