Isostasy: The Concept of Floating Blocks

Isostasy = the concept that large topographic features

effectively float on the asthenosphere
Iso = same stasis = standstill
Involves a state of constant pressure at any point
Pressure: P = g h
If g were measured from a balloon at constant elevation you
would expect a mass excess (i.e. larger g) above mountains.
We commonly observe considerably less g over large mountains
Consistent with low density roots beneath large mountains
 Isostasy: The Initial Discovery
The hypothesis that large mountains have low density roots was
first proposed during topographic surveys of India and the
Himalayan Mountains
Questions:
How does this low density root
form?
As a mountain range becomes
eroded why are there not large
negative anomalies due to the
low density roots?

Explanation:
Large topographic features
effectively float on the
asthenosphere
Follows Archimedes principle
 Archimedes Principle
Supposedly, Archimedes was taking a bath one day and noticed
that the tub overflowed when he got in.
He realized that displaced water could be used to
Detect volumes of odd shaped objects
Detect density differences (helped determine that a crown wasnt 100% gold)
Archimedes Principle:
As an object is partially submerged in a fluid, the weight of fluid
that is displaced = the weight reduction of the object
When the displaced fluid = the weight of the object
It floats
 Isostatic Compensation
Take the case of a layered block floating in a fluid
Remove two layers and
The bottom is now less deep below the surface of the liquid
The top is less elevated above the surface of the fluid
Thus, floating blocks will seek isostatic equilibrium and are said to
be isostatically compensated
In the case of the continental crust, density differences are small, so
any significant topography in isostatic equilibrium must be balanced
by a thick crustal root
E.g. the Himalayas are < 9 km above sea level, but have roots > 70 km
So, mountains in isostatic equilibrium are like the tip of an iceberg
 Isostasy and Gravity
If blocks are in isostatic equilibrium
Gravity measurements made at some constant elevation above
the blocks would detect (almost) no variation in g
There would be small variations at the edges of blocks due to the nearby
topography
 Isostatic Calculations
Take the simple example of two floating blocks A and B
Each has different layers of varying thickness and density
Includes an asthenospheric layer and an air layer

If A and B are in isostatic equilibrium

Their total weights are the same Weight g h
1g h1 2 g h2 3 g h3 air g hair asthg hasth BlockA 1g h1 2 g h2 air g hair asthg hasth BlockB
g 1h1 2 h2 3h3 asthhasth BlockA g 1h1 2 h2 asthhasth BlockB
1h1 2h2 3h3 asthhasth BlockA 1h1 2h2 asthhasth BlockB

These are referred

to as the weight
equation

n n
i hi i hi
i 1 Block A i 1 Block B
 Isostatic Calculations
If A and B are in isostatic equilibrium
Their total heights are the same
h1 h2 h3 hair hasth BlockA h1 h2 hair hasth BlockB
This is referred to as the height equation n
n

hi hi
i 1 Block A i 1 Block B
In practice
Choose the top to be the highest elevation of rock (or water/ice)
Choose the bottom to be the lowest elevation of lithosphere
 Example Isostatic Calculation #1
Take the case of adding a 2 km thick glacier on top of a continent
The weight of the ice causes the block to sink deeper until isostatic
equilibrium is reached
Treat the before and after as two separate blocks that are both in
equilibrium and use weight equation
(3 x 2.0) + (30 x 2.7) + (70 x 3.1) + (ha x 3.2) = (2 x 0.9) + (3 x 2.0) + (30 x 2.7) + (70 x 3.1)

ha = 0.56 km

So what does this mean?

Adding 2 km of ice on top of this
continent caused 0.56 km of
isostatic subsidence
The elevation of the top of the
ice sheet after isostatic
equilibrium is reached will be
only 1.44 km above the original
block (from height equation)
hair + 3 + 30 + 70 + 0.56 = 2 + 3 + 30 +70
hair = 2 0.56 = 1.44 km
 Example Isostatic Calculation #2
Suppose that there was a large 2 km deep lake (in equilibrium)
Gradually, sediments are brought in by rivers that eventually replace
the water and fill the lake up to its current water level
How thick would the sediments be? (why not 2 km?)
(2 x 1.0) + (3 x 2.0) + (30 x 2.7) + (90 x 3.1) + (ha x 3.2) = (hs x 1.8) + (3 x 2.0) + (30 x 2.7) + (90 x 3.1)
Two unknowns! Need another equation. Use the height equation.
2 + 3 + 30 + 90 + ha = hs + 3 + 30 + 90 hs = ha + 2

Substitute hs = ha + 2 into weight

equation
2 + ha x 3.2 = hs x 1.8
2+ ha x 3.2 = (ha + 2) x 1.8
3.2 ha + 2 = 1.8 ha + 3.6
3.2 ha = 1.8 ha + 1.6
1.4 ha = 1.6
ha = 1.142857142 km
ha = 1.1 km
Use Height equation to figure out hs
hs = ha + 2 = 3.1 km
 Example Isostatic Calculation #2
So, ha = 1.1 km and hs = 3.1 km
It took 3.1 km of sediment to completely fill up to the previous lake level
This 3.1 km of sediment added weight and caused an isostatic compensation
of -1.1 km (subsidence)
Likewise, removing material would cause isostatic uplift
But the overall elevation would decrease even after isostatic adjustment
 Airy and Pratt Models of Isostasy
Two end member models have been proposed to account for
isostasy.
Airy Model: All blocks have the same density but different
thicknesses
Pratt Model: All blocks float to the same depth but have different
densities
 Airy Model of Isostasy
Airy Model: All blocks have the same density but different
thicknesses
Thicker blocks have higher elevation and much thicker roots
Higher ground is where the lithosphere is thicker
The weight equation becomes:
hlith lith hasthasth A hlith lith hasthasth B
 Pratt Model of Isostasy
Pratt Model: All blocks float at the same depth, but have differing
density
higher elevations indicate less dense rocks
Higher ground is where the lithosphere is thicker
The weight equation becomes:
hlith lith A hlith lith B

The height equation is the same

for both Airy and Pratt models
 Airy vs. Pratt: Which is Correct?
The Airy and Pratt are not the only possible models
They are end member models
A combination of density changes and lithosphere thickness
may occur
But, in general, most data supports
The Airy model for continental mountain ranges
Continental mountain ranges have thick crustal roots

The Pratt model for mid-ocean ridges

Mid ocean ridges have topography that is supported by
density changes
Increased temperature at ridges ---> rocks expand ---> lower density
 The Isostatic Anomaly
Recall that earlier we learned that floating blocks (in equilibrium)
should produce no anomaly.
Gravity measurements at B and D will yield the same values if the
free-air correction is applied.
When only the latitude and free-air corrections have been made the result
is called the free-air anomaly
If the Bouguer correction is made, the extra mass above B is
removed and results in a negative Bouguer anomaly
 The Isostatic Anomaly
If a region is not isostatically compensated
The free-air anomaly will be positive
The Bouguer anomaly will be zero
Partially compensated regions are common
free-air anomaly > 0
Bouguer anomaly < 0