Earth Surface Exchanges (ESEX) Response to the discussion ‘Swelling and flow of expanding clays as a cause for non-tectonic deformations in a glacial–interglacial environment: Holy Cross Mountains, Poland’ Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 2023: 1–16. DOI: 10.1002/esp.5609—reply

In response to the revision of our article on the nontectonic origins of unusually steep and overturned strata in the Mesozoic of the Holy Cross Mountains (HCM), we refute arguments that the authors of discussion make our theory implausible. The authors focused on proving the presence of strike-slip faults in the HCM, but at the same time, they believe that fold deformations precede the faults that cut them. The explanations provided by the critics still do not explain the extraordinary convergence of the morphology, surface of the fault and deformations occurring in its vicinity over a distance of 27 km. This problem was solved in our previous study, in which we have suggested that the steep and overturned orientation of the Oxfordian strata may be the result of non-tectonic processes. We consider the arguments used by the critics to be incorrect.