Isostasy and Flexure of the Lithosphere

by A. B. Watts

Overview

This unique book presents an overview of isostasy, a phenomenon of fundamental importance to the earth sciences. Isostasy is a simple concept, yet it has long perplexed students. To overcome this problem, the author uses a simplified mathematical treatment, numerous geological examples and an extensive bibliography. The book begins by tracing the ideas behind local and regional models of isostasy, arguing that only flexure is in accord with geological observations. It then proceeds to describe the theoretical background, the observational evidence and the constraints that flexure has provided on physical properties of the lithosphere. The book concludes with a discussion of flexure's role in understanding the evolution of the surface features of the Earth and its neighboring planets.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521006002
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/04/2001
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	1,028,144
Product dimensions:	6.93(w) x 9.76(h) x 1.02(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Acknowledgments; Notation; 1. Historical development of the concept of isostasy; 2. Isostasy and flexure of the lithosphere; 3. Theory of elastic plates; 4. Geological examples of the flexure model of isostasy; 5. Isostatic response functions; 6. Isostasy and the physical nature of the lithosphere; 7. Isostasy and the origin of geological features in the continents and oceans; 8. Isostasy and the terrestrial planets; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Dr. Watts takes us on an entertaining journey from the early ideas concerning isostasy and strength of the outer layers of the Earth to the latest space-based inferences of isostasy on the terrestrial planets...a unique book, being the first modern treatise that is fully dedicated to isostasy and how nature strives to achieve it at all length scales. Lucidly written yet mathematically rigorous, the book is beautifully illustrated and contains numerous references to the most pertinent work, and as such will serve as a valuable reference book for researchers in this important field. Intended for use as a graduate-level textbook, the fundamental importance of the subject matter is bound to make the book of great interest to a broad range of scientists studying gravity, isostasy, geodesy, tectonics, and basin analysis...a superb book which covers a lot of ground on a fundamental topic of general importance to Earth scientists." Geology Magazine

"Isostacy and Flexure of the Lithosphere provides an excellent guide for those applying flexural isostacy to practical problems. It is also a starting point for those wishing to learn more about the actual physics of Earth's lithosphere." Physics Today

"Accessible and authoritative, this book will be of interest to a wide range of geologists and geophysicists. For students, it would serve as an excellent companion to plate techtonics and geodynamics texts. For researchers, it provides a firm founadation for inclusion of regional isostatic principles in broad-scale tectonic scenarios and a practical base for the development of physically realistic models for the formation of local basin stratigraphy." The Leading Edge

From the Publisher