A Global Isostatic Load Model and its Application to Determine the Lithospheric Density Structure of Hotspot Swells

摘要: The concept of “continental drift” advocated by A. Wegener from about 1912 until his death in 1930 was based on geological observations and (for those times) modern principles isostasy. His idea the “wandering continents” complemented strengthened later important notions, among which were rejuvenation oceanic lithosphere its absorption inner Earth after subduction that evolved as theory “plate tectonics” gained general acceptance 1970S. Plate tectonics introduced radically new notion geodynamics large horizontal motion 100 km thick lithospheric plates gliding their substratum, asthenosphere. dynamics plates, thought to be driven convection currents asthenosphere, determines relief Earth’s crust.