Quantitative Plate Tectonics, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2015
Physics of the Earth - Plate Kinematics – Geodynamics

This textbook on plate tectonics is designed for students in geology and geophysics to acquire in-depth knowledge of quantitative methods in plate kinematics and dynamics. Quantitative Plate Tectonics can also be used as a reference book by geoscientists who desire to expand their knowledge beyond their own specialization, or by oil-and-gas professionals and ore deposit specialists that need to investigate the geodynamic context of formation of geologic resources.

Finally, this book can be considered as a comprehensive monograph on plate tectonics, which addresses the different quantitative aspects of this broad discipline, which has been traditionally partitioned into separate or quasi-separate branches.

Additional material, available at http://extras.springer.com, includes two computer programs for the analysis of marine magnetic anomalies and for plate kinematic modelling, as well as some important geophysical data sets and models. Solutions to the exercises are also included.

• A unified quantitative description of plate tectonics, combining geological and geophysical perspectives
• Professional software, manual verification examples and applications are available as additional material
• Includes detailed calculations, examples, and problem sets per chapter
• Well illustrated

"Dr. Schettino has produced a book covering in a rigorous way the kinematics and dynamics of plate tectonics. The fundamental physics governing geodynamic processes is discussed quantitatively, the relevant equations are clearly derived, and the implications of results are illustrated with examples and problems. The book will repay careful reading not only by postgraduate students in geophysics and geology, but also by any Earth scientist who wishes to acquire a quantitative understanding of plate tectonics."Giorgio Ranalli, Distinguished Research Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton university, Ottawa, Canada (author of "Rheology of the Earth", two editions, 1987 and 1995)

"This text gives an excellent quantitative presentation of the kinematics and the dynamics of plate tectonics that integrates many aspects of the Earth sciences and provides a powerful model of the dynamic behaviour of the Earth. The geological and geophysical processes involved in elucidating the theory are clearly illustrated through a perfectly balanced level of mathematical and physical concepts including derivation of the relevant equations, examples and problems. The book is intended for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and professional earth scientists requiring an overview of the essential processes of plate tectonics."
Marco Ligi, Senior Researcher, National Research Council of Italy, Istituto di Scienze Marine, Bologna, Italy.

Preface

Part I: Plate Kinematics

1 Composition of the Crust and the Mantle

1.1 Crust and mantle minerals

1.2 Continental crust

1.3 Oceanic crust

1.4 Lithospheric mantle

1.5 Asthenosphere

1.6 Transition zone

1.7 Lower mantle

References

Problems

2 Plate Motions

2.1 The continuum mechanics representation

2.2 Euler’s theorem and rigid rotations

2.3 Reference frames

2.4 Plate boundaries

2.5 Triple junctions

2.6 Tectonic elements

2.7 Plate circuits and rotation models

2.8 Plate tectonic reconstructions

2.9 Current plate motions

References

Problems

3 Magnetization and Magnetic Minerals

3.1 Electric currents

3.2 Magnetic moments

3.3 Maxwell’s equations for the magnetic field

3.4 Magnetization

3.5 Magnetic properties of rocks

References

Problems

4 The Geomagnetic Field

4.1 Source of the main geomagnetic field

4.2 The geodynamo

4.3 Secular variation of the core field

4.4 Polarity inversions, chrons, and geomagnetic timescales

4.5 Ionosphere and magnetosphere

4.6 Crustal magnetic field

4.7 The geomagnetic potential

4.8 Spherical harmonic expansion of the geomagnetic field and the IGRF

References

Problems

5 Marine Magnetic Anomalies

5.1 Magnetic anomalies

5.2 Acquisition and pre-processing of raw magnetic data

5.3 Levelling techniques

5.4 Modelling of marine magnetic anomalies

5.5 Forward modelling procedures

5.6 Construction of isochrons maps

5.7 Determining finite rotations

5.8 Data transformations

References

Problems

6 Paleomagnetism and Earth History

6.1 Néel’s theory of single–domain TRM

6.2 Paleomagnetic sampling and cleaning procedures

6.3 Paleomagnetic directions

6.4 Paleopoles and apparent polar wander paths

6.5 Paleomagnetic reference frames

6.6 True polar wander

6.7 Velocity fields and acceleration fields during the Cenozoic and the Mesozoic

6.8 Non-dipole paleomagnetic fields

References

Problems

Part II: Dynamics of the Lithosphere and the Mantle

7 Stress and Strain

7.1 The stress tensor

7.2 Displacement fields and strain

7.3 Cauchy momentum equation

7.4 Basic rheological models and constitutive equations

References

Problems

8 Elasticity of the Earth

8.1 Hooke’s law

8.2 Equations of motion for elastic media

8.3 Seismic waves

8.4 Seismic energy

References

Problems

9 Seismic Rays

9.1 The Eikonal equation

9.2 Geometrical spreading

9.4 1–D velocity models

9.5 Travel time curves

9.6 Low–velocity zones

9.7 Seismic phases nomenclature

References

Problems

10 Earthquakes

10.1 Reid’s model

10.2 Faults and focal mechanisms

10.3 Moment tensor

10.4 Earthquake magnitude

10.5 Gutenberg-Richter law

References

Problems

11 Seismic Deformation of the Lithosphere

11.1 Kostrov’s formula

11.2 The asymmetric strain tensor

11.3 Global pattern of lithospheric deformation

11.4 Bending of slabs

References

Problems

12 Heat Flow and Thermodynamics of the Lithosphere

12.1 Fourier’s law

12.2 Continental geotherms

12.3 Non–steady state heat conduction

12.4 Cooling of the oceanic lithosphere

12.5 Driving mechanism of plate tectonics: ridge push and slab pull

References

Problems

13 Flow and Fluid Behaviour of the Mantle

13.1 Continuity equation

13.2 Navier–Stokes equations

13.3 Energy balance

13.4 Flow in the asthenosphere

13.5 Stream functions and two–dimensional flows

13.6 Rayleigh-Bénard convection

References

Problems

14 Gravity Field of the Earth

14.1 Gravity field and geopotential

14.2 Spherical harmonic expansion of the geopotential: the geoid

14.3 Geoid and ellipsoid

14.4 MacCullagh’s formula

14.5 Gravity measurements and reduction of gravity data

14.6 Isostasy and dynamic topography

References

Problems

Index

Antonio Schettino is aggregate professor of geophysics at the university of Camerino, Italy. He has research interests in the applications of physics and computational methods to Earth sciences, especially plate kinematics and geodynamics. His main publications focus on the Mediterranean and central Atlantic kinematics, the construction of apparent polar wander paths, the geometry of subduction systems, and the techniques of analysis of marine magnetic anomalies. Presently he leads an international research team engaged in the acquisition of new geophysical and geologic data from the Red Sea region and a re-examination of the Nubia – East Africa - Arabia plate kinematics and geodynamics.

A unified quantitative description of plate tectonics, combining geological and geophysical perspectives

Professional software, manual verification examples and applications are available as additional material

Includes detailed calculations, examples and problem sets per chapter

Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras