Isostasy of the Bering Sea (Izostaziya Beringova Morya)

The study of the deep-seated structure and dynamics of the earth's crust and upper mantle requires knowledge of isostasy. Among all forms of gravity reductions, the abyssal heterogeneities are most clearly reflected in the isostatic anomalies. The analysis of the latter is especially effective in the areas of the most active tectonics. One such area is the peripheral belt of the Pacific Ocean. A calculation and analysis of isostatic anomalies, pertaining to the transition area from the Asiatic and American continents to the northern part of the Pacific Ocean, were performed by the authors. The region of investigation is interesting because it includes almost all the most characteristic elements of the relief of transition zones, such as continental shelf and slope, marinal sea, island arc, abyssal trench, marginal oceanic swell, and underwater ridges. In addition, the shelf of the Bering Sea is the connecting continental link between Asia and North America, and this makes it possible to consider it as a subsided part of the continent. (Author) Trans. of Geofizicheskii Byulleten (USSR) n20 p15-19 1969, by George Synenko.