Which of the following options accurately describes isostasy and its relation to continental vs. oceanic crust?
A) Isostasy refers to the equilibrium between the Earth's lithosphere and asthenosphere, where the lithosphere floats on the denser asthenosphere. This concept is particularly relevant to continental crust, which is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
B) Isostasy is the process of plate tectonics, where the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several plates that move and interact with each other. This process affects both continental and oceanic crust equally.
C) Isostasy is the principle that explains the formation of oceanic crust through seafloor spreading. It states that as new crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, older crust is pushed away, creating a balanced distribution of crustal material.
D) Isostasy refers to the concept that the Earth's crust is in a state of constant adjustment to maintain equilibrium. This principle is particularly relevant to oceanic crust, which is denser and thinner than continental crust.
