English

Noun

isostasy ‎(usually uncountable, plural isostasies)

1. (geology) The state of balance or pressure equilibrium thought to exist within the Earth's crust, whereby the upper lithosphere floats on denser magma beneath.
   • 2003, Bill Bryson, A Short History of Nearly Everything, BCA, p. 155:

     The process of vertical movement, known as isostasy, was a foundation of geological belief for generations, though no-one had any really good theories as to how or why it happened.

   • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society 2011, p. 173:

     A great thickness of comparatively light sedimentary rocks accumulating in a geosyncline would ultimately ‘rebound’ because of isostasy – like a depressed rubber duck bouncing back upwards in a bath.

Derived terms

• isostatic
• isostatically
• isostatics

Translations