Product Description

This unique book presents an overview of isostasy, a simple concept of fundamental importance to the Earth Sciences that students have traditionally found difficult to grasp. With this in mind, the author has used a simplified mathematical treatment, numerous geological examples and an extensive bibliography, to make the subject more accessible and easy-to-understand. Beginning by tracing the ideas behind local and regional models of isostasy and arguing that only flexure is in accord with geological observations, the book 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. Ideal for graduate students of geophysics, geodesy and geoscience, it will also be of interest to researchers in gravity and geodesy, tectonics and basin analysis.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2538921 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

Review
‘… readable and very useful … it is an absolute bargain. Graduate students, advanced undergraduates and professionals will enjoy this volume and find it very useful in future work.’ James S. McClain, Episodes

‘… there is no question but that this book is the authoritative word on isostasy and flexure.’ Marcia McNutt, EOS

‘The opening two chapters are an addictive introduction to the history of isostasy. Watts quickens the pulse and opens the mind with his well-balanced descriptions of spectacular geology, perilous expeditions and scholarly Victorian disputes.’ John Maclennan, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris

‘… a superb book which covers a lot of ground on a fundamental topic of general importance to Earth scientists.’ Geological Magazine

'Isostasy and Flexure of the Lithosphere provides an excellent guide for those applying flexural isostasy 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