Two blocks arranged diagonally behind each other with the lithosphere in brown at the top and the mantle in grey below. The front block with the word “Loading” shows a parabolic ice load pressing down on the Earth below. The rear block with the word “Rebound” has no load, and a lifting movement can be seen in the still depressed Earth. In addition, red arrows in the lithosphere indicate changes in its elastic state. In the mantle below, red arrows indicate the direction of material flow, with a flow away from the deforming lithosphere during loading at the front and a return flow of material during unloading at the rear.
Schematic representation of how the lithosphere (brown) reacts elastically and the Earth's mantle (grey) reacts viscously to the changing load of an ice sheet. (GFZ/Künsting)

GIA describes the response of the solid Earth and the sea level to glacial cycles over the last million years and includes the response to melting glaciers over the last few centuries up to present day an future changes.

 

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