What Is Isostasy? 🏔️⚖️– How Earth’s crust “floats” on the mantle скачать в хорошем качестве

What Is Isostasy? 🏔️⚖️– How Earth’s crust “floats” on the mantle

Isostasy explains why continents float and mountains don’t sink forever. It's the principle that Earth’s crust rests on the denser, flowing mantle below it — much like icebergs floating in water. This balance determines the height of continents, ocean basins, and mountain ranges. 🌍🏞️ Different types of crust "weigh" different amounts. Continental crust is thick and less dense, so it floats higher. Oceanic crust is thinner and denser, so it sits lower. When large masses like glaciers or mountain ranges build up, the crust is pushed down. When they melt or erode, the crust rebounds, rising again over time — a process called isostatic adjustment. 🧊🔄 For example, parts of Scandinavia are still rising today after the last Ice Age, as the land rebounds from the massive glaciers that once covered it. ⛰️📈 Isostasy is key to understanding plate tectonics, earthquakes, and long-term landscape evolution. It shows that Earth’s surface isn’t static — it’s always shifting and adjusting to maintain balance.