Tectonic uplift is the portion of the total geologic uplift of the mean Earth surface that is not attributable to an
isostatic response to
unloading. Whereas isostatic response is important, an increase in the mean elevation of a region can only occur in response to tectonic processes of
crustal thickening (such as
mountain building events), changes in the density distribution of the crust and underlying
mantle, and flexural support due to the bending of rigid
lithosphere.