Paleic_surface
Paleic surface
Erosion surface in Southern Norway
The paleic surface or palaeic surface (Norwegian: paleiske overflaten, from Ancient Greek palaios 'old'[1]) is an erosion surface of gentle slopes that exist in South Norway.[2] Parts of it are a continuation of the Sub-Cambrian peneplain and Muddus Plains found further east[3][4] or equivalent to the strandflat coastal plains of Norway.[5] Hardangervidda, a particularly flat and elevated part of the Paleic surface formed in the Miocene at sea level.[6]
Although the tilted plateau-like topography of south Norway had been noted since the early 1800s, the first formal description was by Hans Reusch in 1901, using a denudation chronology approach invoking several of W.M. Davis’ ideas of a cycle of erosion. Reusch also coined the name Paleic surface.[7][8]
The Paleic surface is sometimes erroneously considered equal to Norway's "pre-glacial surface" – the surface that existed in Norway just before the Quaternary glaciations.[9]