From Book News, Inc.
Isostasy (the idea that the Earth's crust is floating on the mantle in a state of equilibrium disturbed only by outside forces such as volcanism, the waxing and waning of ice sheets, and other surface processes) last had a book devoted to it in 1927. Watts (marine geology and geophysics, U. of Oxford, UK) traces the history of the concept and explains how along with the related concept of flexure (in which the floating crust bends in response to loads) isostasy is the best explanation for the geologic features observed on Earth, and indeed on Mars and Venus as well. The work is intended for use as a graduate-level textbook for students involved in a range of geological studies.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Review
"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
Book Description
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.
Book Info
Presents an overview of isostasy, a simple concept of fundamental importance to the Earth Sciences that students have traditionally found difficult to grasp. Softcover.
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