Which statement comes closest to describing the isostatic compensation under convergent continental mountain belts?
A)The extra elevation of mountains, like that of icebergs above the sea, is held up by the weight of the denser material that their lower portions displace.
B)The extra elevation of mountains is maintained almost entirely by rising mantle plumes.
C)The extra elevation of mountains is accounted for by the missing mass from adjacent eroded valleys and flanking lowland areas.
D)The extra elevation of mountains is maintained by active elastic compression supplied by earthquake cycles and crustal convergence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Isostatic compensation refers to the balance between the uplift and subsidence of the Earth's crust following mountain-building events. In convergent continental mountain belts, the extra elevation of mountains is held up by the weight of the denser material that their lower portions displace. This is similar to the way icebergs float in water with a portion of their mass being submerged to maintain balance. This is known as the principle of isostasy.

Which Statement Comes Closest to Describing the Isostatic Compensation Under