Compressional Tectonics: Plate Convergence to Mountain Building (Geophysical Monograph Series)

Compressional Tectonics A synthesis of current knowledge on collisional and convergent plate boundaries worldwide Major mountain belts on Earth, such as the Alps, Himalayas, and Appalachians, have been built by compressional tectonic processes during continent-continent and arc-continent collisions. Understanding their formation and evolution is important because of the hazards associated with convergent and collisional plate boundaries, and because these mountain belts contain resources such as precious metals, rare earth elements, oil, gas, and coal. Compressional Tectonics: Plate Convergence to Mountain Building reviews our present-day knowledge of the tectonic evolution of the Alpine-Himalayan and Appalachian belts. Volume highlights include: Overview of terminology relating to compressional and contractional tectonics Discussion of subduction zone dynamics Debates over the timing of the collision and convergence of particular subduction and suture zones Examples of the different stages in the development of orogenic belts This book is one of a set of three in the collection Tectonic Processes: A Global View . The American Geophysical Union promotes discovery in Earth and space science for the benefit of humanity. Its publications disseminate scientific knowledge and provide resources for researchers, students, and professionals. "Tectonism has affected Earth's climate, geomorphology, magmatism, geochemistry, sedimentary environments, and economic resources throughout its geologic evolution. This makes tectonics a core subdiscipline in Earth sciences. Webster's dictionary defines plate tectonics as: "a theory in geology: the lithosphere of the earth is divided into a small number of plates which float on and travel independently over the mantle and much of the earth's seismic activity occurs at the boundaries of these plates." However, plate tectonics is more than just a theory; it is overwhelmingly accepted as the Unifying Theory of Earth Sciences because all aspects of Earth Sciences can be explained within the framework of plate tectonics. Earth's crust is divided into major plates and microplates, interacting with each other along divergent (extensional), convergent (compressional), and transform (strike-slip) plate boundaries. Within the last forty years, Earth sciences have made tremendous advances in our understanding of plate tectonics processes along these three different types of plate boundaries"-- Provided by publisher