Author Question: How does isostasy determine surface elevation? What will be an ideal ... (Read 36 times)

rmenurse · **on:** Jul 16, 2018

How does isostasy determine surface elevation?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

How does the age of the seafloor affect sea level?

What will be an ideal response?

ryansturges · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 16, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Isostasy determines crustal height. Crustal thicknesses are organized so that the density is the same everywhere at the base of the lithosphere. Thus, some regions are lower density and thicker, and others are higher density and thinner.

Answer to Question 2

If the seafloor is mostly young and warm, then isostasy results in the young crust riding high in the asthenosphere. This results in shallow oceans and a higher sea level. If the seafloor is mostly older dense oceanic crust, then the oceans will be deeper and sea level will be lower.