What is isostatic compensation?
Definition of isostatic compensation : the deficiency of mass in the earth’s crust below sea level that exactly balances the mass above sea level.
What is the zone of compensation in isostasy?
In the theory of isostasy, a mass above sea level is supported below sea level, and there is thus a certain depth at which the total weight per unit area is equal all around the Earth; this is known as the depth of compensation.
What is the isostatic compensation depth?
denser mantle in equilibrium = isostatic. equilibrium, or isostasy. • Isostasy condition: the weight of columns of rock, at some depth called the depth of compensation, is everywhere equal. 2.67 2.62 2.57.
What is isostatic adjustment?
Isostatic adjustment refers to the transient (102−104 years) or long term (> 105 years) nonelastic response of the earth’s lithosphere to loading and unloading due to erosion, deposition, water loading, desiccation, ice accumulation, and deglaciation.
How do you calculate isostatic equilibrium?
In isostatic equilibrium, the pressure at the bottom of each column (below where there are any differences in the density) is the same in both columns (P1=P2. Write out the sum for the pressure in each column (this reduces to the sum of the density times the thickness in each layer) Set the pressures equal.
What is isostatic adjustment and how does it produce ocean basins?
The Earth deforms in response to this force; subsiding under the load of an ice sheet or full oceanic basin, and rebounding once the ice sheets melt or water is removed from the oceanic basins. The deformation that takes place is isostatic.
What is isostatic equilibrium give examples?
Isostatic equilibrium is an ideal state where the crust and mantle would settle into in absence of disturbing forces. The waxing and waning of ice sheets, erosion, sedimentation, and extrusive volcanism are examples of processes that perturb isostasy.
What do you mean by isostatic adjustment?
How do you find isostatic equilibrium?
Why is this called isostatic equilibrium?
Isostasy (Greek ísos “equal”, stásis “standstill”) or isostatic equilibrium is the state of gravitational equilibrium between Earth’s crust (or lithosphere) and mantle such that the crust “floats” at an elevation that depends on its thickness and density.
What is the origin of isostatic compensation?
In the late nineteenth century, two accounts of isostatic compensation had been proposed: John Henry Pratt (1809–1871) attributed it to density variations, George Biddell Airy (1801–1892) attributed it to differences in crustal thickness.
What is isostatic adjustment of the Earth?
In addition to the vertical movement of the land and sea, isostatic adjustment of the Earth also involves horizontal movements. It can cause changes in Earth’s gravitational field and rotation rate, polar wander, and earthquakes. The hypothesis of isostasy is often used to determine the position of the lithosphere – asthenosphere boundary (LAB).
What is the isostatic response to denudation?
For the typical crustal and mantle densities mentioned before, this implies equivalent denudation of five to six times the elevation. The isostatic response is wavelength dependent, and for length scales in excess of 100–200 km, local (Airy) isostasy is generally appropriate.
What is the isostatic response of a solar cell?
The isostatic response is wavelength dependent, and for length scales in excess of 100–200 km, local (Airy) isostasy is generally appropriate.