Bibliography : (p. 428-462

Includes index

1 Historical perspective: 1.1 Continental drift -- 1.2 Sea floor spreading and the birth of plate tectonics -- 1.3 Geosynclinal theory -- 1.4 Impact of plate tectonics. 2 The interior of the Earth: 2.1 Earthquake seismology -- 2.1.1 Introduction -- 2.1.2 Earthquake descriptors -- 2.1.3 Seismic waves -- 2.1.4 Earthquake location -- 2.1.5 Mechanism of earthquakes -- 2.1.6 Focal mechanism solutions of earthquakes -- 2.1.7 Ambiguity in focal mechanism solutions -- 2.1.8 Seismic tomography -- 2.2 Velocity structure of the Earth -- 2.3 Composition of the Earth -- 2.4 The crust -- 2.4.1 The continental crust -- 2.4.2 Upper continental crust -- 2.4.3 Middle and lower continental crust -- 2.4.4 The oceanic crust -- 2.4.5 Oceanic layer 1 -- 2.4.6 Oceanic layer 2 -- 2.4.7 Oceanic layer 3 -- 2.5 Ophiolites -- 2.6 Metamorphism of oceanic crust -- 2.7 Differences between continental and oceanic crust -- 2.8 The mantle -- 2.8.1 Introduction -- 2.8.2 Seismic structure of the mantle -- 2.8.3 Mantle composition -- 2.8.4 The mantle low velocity zone -- 2.8.5 The mantle transition zone -- 2.8.6 The lower mantle -- 2.9 The core -- 2.10 Rheology of the crust and mantle -- 2.10.1 Introduction -- 2.10.2 Brittle deformation -- 2.10.3 Ductile deformation -- 2.10.4 Lithospheric strength profiles 2.10.5 Measuring continental deformation -- 2.10.6 Deformation in the mantle -- 2.11 Isostasy -- 2.11.1 Introduction -- 2.11.2 Airy's hypothesis -- 2.11.3 Pratt's hypothesis -- 2.11.4 Flexure of the lithosphere -- 2.11.5 Isostatic rebound -- 2.11.6 Tests of isostasy -- 2.12 Lithosphere and asthenosphere -- 2.13 Terrestrial heat flow. 3 Continental drift: 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Continental reconstructions -- 3.2.1 Euler's theorem -- 3.2.2 Geometric reconstructions of continents -- 3.2.3 The reconstruction of continents around the Atlantic -- 3.2.4 The reconstruction of Gondwana -- 3.3 Geologic evidence for continental drift -- 3.4 Paleoclimatology -- 3.5 Paleontologic evidence for continental drift -- 3.6 Paleomagnetism -- 3.6.1 Introduction -- 3.6.2 Rock magnetism -- 3.6.3 Natural remanent magnetization -- 3.6.4 The past and present geomagnetic field -- 3.6.5 Apparent polar wander curves -- 3.6.6 Paleogeographic reconstructions based on paleomagnetism. 4 Sea floor spreading and transform faults: 4.1 Sea floor spreading -- 4.1.1 Introduction -- 4.1.2 Marine magnetic anomalies -- 4.1.3 Geomagnetic reversals -- 4.1.4 Sea floor spreading -- 4.1.5 The Vine-Matthews hypothesis -- 4.1.6 Magnetostratigraphy -- 4.1.7 Dating of the ocean floor -- 4.2 Transform faults -- 4.2.1 Introduction -- 4.2.2 Ridge-ridge transform faults -- 4.2.3 Ridge jumps and transform fault offsets. 5 The framework of plate tectonics: 5.1 Plates and plate margins -- 5.2 Distribution of earthquakes -- 5.3 Relative plate motions -- 5.4 Absolute plate motions -- 5.5 Hotspots -- 5.6 True polar wander -- 5.7 Cretaceous superplume -- 5.8 Direct measurement of relative plate motions -- 5.9 Finite plate motions -- 5.10 Stability of triple junctions -- 5.11 Present day triple junctions. 6 Ocean ridges: 6.1 Ocean ridge topography -- 6.2 Broad structure of the upper mantle below ridges -- 6.3 Origin of anomalous upper mantle beneath ridges -- 6.4 Depth-age relationship of oceanic lithosphere -- 6.5 Heat flow and hydrothermal circulation -- 6.6 Seismic evidence for an axial magma chamber -- 6.7 Along-axis segmentation of oceanic ridges -- 6.8 Petrology of ocean ridges -- 6.9 Shallow structure of the axial region -- 6.10 Origin of the oceanic crust -- 6.11 Propagating rifts and microplates -- 6.12 Oceanic fracture zones. 7 Continental rifts and rifted margins: 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 General characteristics of narrow rifts -- 7.3 General characteristics of wide rifts -- 7.4 Volcanic activity -- 7.4.1 Large igneous provinces -- 7.4.2 Petrogenesis of rift rocks -- 7.4.3 Mantle upwelling beneath rifts -- 7.5 Rift initiation -- 7.6 Strain localization and delocalization processes -- 7.6.1 Introduction -- 7.6.2 Lithospheric stretching -- 7.6.3 Buoyancy forces and lower crustal flow -- 7.6.4 Lithospheric flexure -- 7.6.5 Strain-induced weakening -- 7.6.6 Rheological stratification of the lithosphere -- 7.6.7 Magma-assisted rifting -- 7.7 Rifted continental margins -- 7.7.1 Volcanic margins -- 7.7.2 Nonvolcanic margins -- 7.7.3 The evolution of rifted margins -- 7.8 Case studies: the transition from rift to rifted margin -- 7.8.1 The East African Rift system -- 7.8.2 The Woodlark Rift -- 7.9 The Wilson cycle. 8 Continental transforms and strike-slip faults: 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Fault styles and physiography -- 8.3 The deep structure of continental transforms -- 8.3.1 The Dead Sea Transform -- 8.3.2 The San Andreas Fault -- 8.3.3 The Alpine Fault -- 8.4 Transform continental margins -- 8.5 Continuous versus discontinuous deformation -- 8.5.1 Introduction -- 8.5.2 Relative plate motions and surface velocity fields -- 8.5.3 Model sensitivities -- 8.6 Strain localization and delocalization mechanisms -- 8.6.1 Introduction -- 8.6.2 Lithospheric heterogeneity -- 8.6.3 Strain-softening feedbacks -- 8.7 Measuring the strength of transforms. 9 Subduction zones: 9.1 Ocean trenches -- 9.2 General morphology of island arc systems -- 9.3 Gravity anomalies of subduction zones -- 9.4 Structure of subduction zones from earthquakes -- 9.5 Thermal structure of the downgoing slab -- 9.6 Variations in subduction zone characteristics -- 9.7 Accretionary prisms -- 9.8 Volcanic and plutonic activity -- 9.9 Metamorphism at convergent margins -- 9.10 Backarc basins. 10 Orogenic belts: 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Ocean-continent convergence -- 10.2.1 Introduction -- 10.2.2 Seismicity, plate motions and subduction geometry -- 10.2.3 General geology of the central and southern Andes -- 10.2.4 Deep structure of the central Andes -- 10.2.5 Mechanisms of noncollisional orogenesis -- 10.3 Compressional sedimentary basins -- 10.3.1 Introduction -- 10.3.2 Foreland basins -- 10.3.3 Basin inversion -- 10.3.4 Modes of shortening in foreland fold-thrust belts -- 10.4 Continent-continent collision -- 10.4.1 Introduction -- 10.4.2 Relative plate motions and collisional history -- 10.4.3 Surface velocity fields and seismicity -- 10.4.4 General geology of the Himalayan-Tibetan Plateau -- 10.4.5 Deep structure -- 10.4.6 Mechanisms of continental collision -- 10.5 Arc-continent collision -- 10.6 Terrane accretion and continental growth -- 10.6.1 Terrane analysis -- 10.6.2 Structure of accretionary orogens -- 10.6.3 Mechanisms of terrane accretion. 11 Precambrian tectonics and the supercontinent cycle: 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 Precambrian heat flow -- 11.3 Archean tectonics -- 11.3.1 General characteristics of cratonic mantle lithosphere -- 11.3.2 General geology of Archean cratons -- 11.3.3 The formation of Archean lithosphere -- 11.3.4 Crustal structure -- 11.3.5 Horizontal and vertical tectonics -- 11.4 Proterozoic tectonics -- 11.4.1 General geology of Proterozoic crust -- 11.4.2 Continental growth and craton stabilization -- 11.4.3 Proterozoic plate tectonics -- 11.5 The supercontinent cycle -- 11.5.1 Introduction -- 11.5.2 Pre-Mesozoic reconstructions -- 11.5.3 A Late Proterozoic supercontinent -- 11.5.4 Earlier supercontinents -- 11.5.5 Gondwana-Pangea assembly and dispersal. 12 The mechanism of plate tectonics: 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Contracting Earth hypothesis -- 12.3 Expanding Earth hypothesis -- 12.3.1 Calculation of the ancient moment of inertia of the Earth -- 12.3.2 Calculation of the ancient radius of the Earth -- 12.4 Implications of heat flow -- 12.5 Convection in the mantle -- 12.5.1 The convection process -- 12.5.2 Feasibility of mantle convection -- 12.5.3 The vertical extent of convection -- 12.6 The forces acting on plates -- 12.7 Driving mechanism of plate tectonics -- 12.7.1 Mantle drag mechanism -- 12.7.2 Edge-force mechanism -- 12.8 Evidence for convection in the mantle -- 12.8.1 Introduction -- 12.8.2 Seismic tomography -- 12.8.3 Superswells -- 12.8.4 The D" layer -- 12.9 The nature of convection in the mantle -- 12.10 Plumes -- 12.11 The mechanism of the supercontinent cycle. 13 Implications of plate tectonics: 13.1 Environmental change -- 13.1.1 Changes in sea level and sea water chemistry -- 13.1.2 Changes in oceanic circulation and the Earth?s climate -- 13.1.3 Land areas and climate -- 13.2 Economic geology -- 13.2.1 Introduction -- 13.2.2 Autochthonous and allochthonous mineral deposits -- 13.2.3 Deposits of sedimentary basins -- 13.2.4 Deposits related to climate -- 13.2.5 Geothermal power -- 13.3 Natural hazards.

"The third edition of this widely acclaimed textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to all prospects of global tectonics. Revisions to this new edition reflect the most significant recent advances in the field, providing a thorough, accessible, and up-to-date text. Combining a historical approach with process science, Global Tectonics provides a careful balance between geological and geophysical material in both continental and oceanic regimes." "New and expanded chapters in this third edition include Precambrian tectonics and the supercontinent cycle; mantle processes, including mantle plumes; the implications of plate tectonics for environmental change; large igneous provinces; rifted continental margins; ocean ridges; continental transforms; subduction zones; and numerous orogenic examples. Written in an engaging style, this important text is an essential reference for undergraduates and graduate students who have a basic introduction in the geosciences."--BOOK JACKET.