1. The state of equilibrium of the Earth's crust, in which the weight of continental and oceanic regions is balanced by differences in crustal thickness and density.
Usage: geology; technical

Examples

• Isostasy explains why mountains float on the mantle like icebergs on water.
• The concept of isostasy helps geologists understand how continents remain stable over geological time.
• When glaciers melt, the land rises due to isostasy as the weight is removed from the crust.
• Isostasy predicts that thicker continental crust will be higher in elevation than thinner oceanic crust.
• The principle of isostasy is fundamental to understanding plate tectonics and crustal deformation.