Which of the following present-day observations of crustal movement in formerly ice covered regions of North America and Eurasia support the flexural isostasy hypothesis?
A) Originally depressed areas rose to their original position by the time the ice finished melting.
B) Originally depressed areas are still rising and the bulges are stationary.
C) Originally depressed areas are still rising and the bulges are sinking.
D) Originally depressed areas are sinking and the bulges are rising.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The flexural isostasy hypothesis suggests that the Earth's lithosphere behaves like an elastic sheet. When the weight of ice sheets depresses the lithosphere, adjacent areas (bulges) are uplifted. Once the ice melts, the depressed areas begin to rise due to the elastic rebound of the lithosphere, and the bulges, having lost the compensating weight on one side, start to sink. This ongoing adjustment process is observed in formerly glaciated regions of North America and Eurasia, supporting the flexural isostasy hypothesis.

Which of the Following Present-Day Observations of Crustal Movement in Formerly