The high elevation in Earth’s topography of hard rocks, such as granites and basalts, was thought to be caused by their inherent resistance to erosion. Numerical modelling now demonstrates, counterintuitively, that erosion-induced isostatic rebound of rocks, which is density dependent, causes granites and basalts to occupy high elevations because they are more dense than surrounding rocks.
- Jean Braun
- Thibaud Simon-Labric
- Peter W. Reiners
