JOURNAL 
OF THE 
WASHINGTON ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 
Vou. 13 JuLY 19, 1923 No. 13 
GEOPHYSICS.—Some recent progress in isostatic investigations. 
Witu1amM Bowr, Chief, Division of Geodesy, U. S. Coast and 
Geodetic Survey. 
The theory of isostasy seems to be gaining in favor with geophysicists 
and geologists. This is shown by the progress made during the past 
year or two. 
The holding of a symposium on isostasy by the Geological Society 
at its annual meeting at Amherst, Massachusetts, in December, 1921, 
indicated the interest which geologists are taking in the subject. 
At the symposium, the papers presented coveredawide field. Nearly 
all of them attempted to show some relation of isostasy to geological 
problems and phenomena. The papers appeared in the June, 1922, 
- number of the Proceedings of the Geological Society of America. 
At the meeting of the Society in December, 1922, held at Ann Arbor, 
Michigan, there were a number of papers in which isostasy was given 
some consideration. 
One of the most valuable additions to isostatic literature is “The 
Strandflat and Isostasy,” by Fridjhof Nansen, published in ‘I Kom- 
mission Hos Dybwad,”’ in December, 1922. In this book of more than 
300 pages, the author shows that the isostatic balance was maintained 
almost, if not perfectly, in Norway during the loading of the area by 
ice-caps and after their disappearances. He makes out a strong case 
for isostasy which should be considered by those studying the processes 
operating in the earth’s crust. 
In addition to the papers referred to above, several others have 
appeared in Italy and the United States. 
At the meeting of the Section of Geodesy, of the International 
Geodetic and Geophysical Union, held at Rome, Italy, in May, 1922, 
isostasy was given some consideration. Efforts are now being made 
1 Presented at meeting of the Section of Geodesy of the American Geophysical Union, 
at Washington, D.C., April 19, 1923. Received June 8, 1923. 
267 
