Airy isostasy model in geophysics

E753776

The Airy isostasy model in geophysics is a theory proposing that variations in topographic height are supported by corresponding differences in crustal thickness, with higher regions underlain by deeper, less dense “roots” floating in gravitational balance on the denser mantle.

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Airy isostasy model in geophysics canonical 1

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Statements (36)

Predicate Object
instanceOf geophysical theory ⓘ
isostasy model ⓘ
appliesTo continental lithosphere ⓘ
assumes constant crustal density ⓘ
crust floats on denser mantle ⓘ
uniform density mantle at depth of compensation ⓘ
variable crustal thickness ⓘ
basedOn Archimedes' principle ⓘ
principle of buoyancy ⓘ
category theories of isostasy ⓘ
comparedWith Pratt isostasy model ⓘ
flexural isostasy model ⓘ
describes gravitational balance of the lithosphere ⓘ
explains topographic height variations by crustal thickness variations ⓘ
field geophysics ⓘ
frameworkFor first-order estimates of crustal structure ⓘ
ignores lithospheric flexural rigidity ⓘ
influenced development of modern isostatic models ⓘ
involves Moho discontinuity ⓘ
crust–mantle boundary ⓘ
depth of compensation ⓘ
namedAfter George Biddell Airy ⓘ
linked to: Sir George Airy
predicts thicker crust beneath plateaus ⓘ
thinner crust beneath lowlands ⓘ
proposedBy George Biddell Airy ⓘ
linked to: Sir George Airy
relatesTo Earth's mantle ⓘ
continental crust ⓘ
isostatic equilibrium ⓘ
simplifies mechanical behavior of lithosphere as locally supported ⓘ
states higher topography is underlain by thicker crustal roots ⓘ
mountain belts have deep crustal roots ⓘ
timePeriod 19th century ⓘ
usedIn crustal thickness estimation ⓘ
interpretation of gravity anomalies ⓘ
mountain belt studies ⓘ
topographic compensation analysis ⓘ

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Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

George Biddell Airy → notableWork → Airy isostasy model in geophysics ⓘ
subject linked to: Sir George Airy