isostasy
/aɪˈsɑstəsi/
noun
- The state of balance or equilibrium between parts of the Earth's crust, where lighter rock floats on denser rock below, like ice floating on water.
- Isostasy explains why mountains have deep roots that extend into the mantle.
- When a heavy glacier melts, the land slowly rises due to isostasy.
- Geologists study isostasy to understand how continents stay stable over millions of years.
Synonyms