Hebung

Hebung is a German noun meaning "lifting" or "rise." It is used in several disciplines to denote an elevation or upward movement of a feature, and its precise meaning depends on the context. The term can refer to geological, linguistic, or more general uses related to ascent.

In geology and physical geography, Hebung denotes the vertical uplift of the land surface or crust relative to sea level. This can result from tectonic forces that push the crust upward, isostatic rebound after ice sheets retreat (postglacial rebound), volcanic doming, or other tectono-geomorphic processes. Hebung is contrasted with Senkung, which means subsidence or sinking. Uplift is typically measured in meters and rates in millimeters per year, using methods such as precise leveling, GPS, InSAR, and satellite altimetry. Examples of uplift processes include mountain-building regions like the Himalayas and the Andes, as well as postglacial rebound in areas such as Fennoscandia and parts of North America.

In linguistics, Hebung refers to the raising of vowel height during a historical sound change (Vokalhebung). It is the opposite of Senkung, the lowering of vowel height. The concept is used to describe vowel shifts and the resulting changes in the vowel inventory and phonological systems of languages, including dialectal variations. While details vary by language, Hebung typically involves moving a vowel toward a higher articulatory position over time.

Etymology: Hebung derives from the German verb heben, meaning "to lift."