The observed variations in the thickness of the conductive lithosphere, derived from surface wave studies, have a first‐order control on the elevation of the continents, in addition to variations in the thickness of the crust—this defines whole lithosphere isostasy (WLI). Negative buoyancy of the mantle lithosphere counters the positive buoyancy of the crust, and together, their respective thicknesses and density contrasts determine elevation of the continents both in their interiors and at their edges. The average density contrasts for lithospheric mantle with crust and with asthenosphere are typically 300 to 550 and 20 to 40 kg m⁻³, respectively, with a ratio 10 to 16, suggesting moderate average depletion of lithospheric mantle. We show that a crustal model for Antarctica, assuming WLI and using these density contrasts, provides a close fit to estimates of crustal thickness from surface wave tomography and gravity observations. We use a global model of WLI as a framework to assess factors controlling topography, showing that plausible regional variations in crustal and mantle densities, together with uncertainties in the crustal and conductive lithospheric thicknesses, are sufficient to account for global elevations without invoking dynamic topography greater than a few hundred meters. Estimates of elastic thickness T_e in the continents are typically 25–50% of the thickness of the conductive lithosphere, indicating that the mantle part supports some of the elastic strength of the lithosphere.

中文翻译：

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全球整体岩石圈等渗：对大陆岩石圈表面高程，结构，强度和密度的影响

从地表波研究得出的导电岩石圈厚度的变化，除了地壳厚度的变化外，还具有对大陆高程的一阶控制-这定义了整个岩石圈的静力学（WLI）。地幔岩石圈的负浮力抵消了地壳的正浮力，并且它们各自的厚度和密度对比共同决定了大陆内部和边缘的海拔。带地壳和软流圈的岩石圈地幔的平均密度对比通常为300至550和20至40 kg m ^-3分别以10到16的比率表示岩石圈地幔的中等平均损耗。我们表明，假设采用WLI并使用这些密度对比，南极洲地壳模型将非常适合通过表面波层析成像和重力观测估算地壳厚度。我们使用WLI的全球模型作为框架来评估控制地形的因素，表明地壳和地幔密度的合理区域变化以及地壳和导电岩石圈厚度的不确定性足以说明全球海拔，而无需调用更大的动态地形比几百米。弹性厚度T _e的估计 大陆上的厚度通常为导电岩石圈厚度的25％至50％，这表明地幔部分支撑了岩石圈的某些弹性强度。