Which mechanism causes significant elevation change after a megathrust earthquake near a coastline?

💡 Explanation

When locked sections of a subduction zone suddenly slip during an earthquake, elastic rebound occurs because the built-up strain is released rapidly, vertically displacing large crustal blocks along coastlines on the overriding plate. Therefore coastal elevation changes result, rather than gradual isostatic uplift, minor thermal expansion, or rainfall induced erosion which take significantly longer time scales.

• Which atmospheric effect causes deflection of prevailing winds forming distinct east-west bands?
• Which biogeochemical effect occurs when coastal upwelling is suppressed due to stronger subtropical gyre stratification?
• Which mechanism causes thermohaline circulation slowdown in a freshwater glacial lake emptying into the North Atlantic?
• Which outcome routinely occurs after slow tectonic creep?
• Which mechanism causes increased phytoplankton productivity due to upwelling circulation?
• Which outcome on land results from aeolian deposition?