Constitution of the Earth's Interior (Physics and evolution of the Earth's interior)

Constitution of the Earth's Interior discusses the physical and evolutionary principles connecting various elements of the knowledge about structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior. This work is divided into eight chapters that primarily focus on the physical, chemical, and petrological state. This text contains general data on a general stationary model, which is described by equations of state combining the basic parameters, including pressure, temperature, density, gravity acceleration, and mineral composition within the Earth's interior. Considerable chapters concern the chemical and petrological composition of the matter in the Earth's interior. The remaining chapters describe models containing inhomogeneities used to illustrate processes connected with phase transitions. This book will be of great value to geologists, physicists, and researchers. The sixth volume of the series "Physics and Evolution of the Earth's Interior" focuses on the mature evolution of the Earth's interior. Three closely coupled branches of Earth sciences are presented. These are: paleomagnetism, plate tectonics and mantle convection theory. Their mutual connections are described and the mantle stresses driving the evolution processes are discussed. Paleomagnetism not just provides crucial data confirming the plate tectonics. In a similar way, plate tectonics gives the best evidence of the mantle convection process. Mantle convection is a leading subject of the book. Both the observational and theoretical approach to mantle convection are presented. The observational approach includes the paleomagnetism backing the plate tectonics theory, methods of interpretation of the gravity data and seismic tomography. The motion of the lithospheric plates described by plate tectonics is a surface manifestation of the convective flow. The gravity data, after some assumptions, could be a source of information about the density distribution in the mantle. This is of special value because the density distribution is included directly in the equation of motion for fluid. The seismic tomography provides the data about distribution of seismic wave velocities and seismic anisotropy. Wave velocities data can be interpreted in terms of density distribution whereas seismic anisotropy data indicate the direction of convective flow. Theoretical approach to the mantle convection includes educing the equations of fluid dynamics, mathematical methods for its handling and a review of the various convection models. The mantle convector is also a source of stresses in the lithosphere. This subject and coupled phenomena are also discussed in the volume. The other extensively discussed subjects are plate tectonics and paleomagnetism. Another way of investigation of Earth's evolution is offered by thermodynamics of the irreversible processes Content: Physics and Evolution of the Earth's Interior 1 , Page II Front Matter , Page III Copyright , Page IV Preface to the Series: Physics and Evolution of the Earth's Interior , Pages V-VI , Roman Teisseyre Preface , Pages VII-VIII , Roman Teisseyre Basic Parameters of the Solar System , Page 1 1 - Equations of State and Geophysical Equations of State , Pages 3-65 2 - Distribution of Selected Physical Parameters in the Earth and Planetary Interiors , Pages 66-100 3 - Creep Processes, Viscosity Models and the Quality Factor Q in the Earth's Interior , Pages 101-148 4 - Thermal Energy and Heat Flow in the Earth's Interior , Pages 149-221 5 - The Structure of the Earth's Interior , Pages 222-247 6 - Phase Transformations: Elements of the Theory and Geophysical Applications , Pages 248-288 7 - Hypothetical Phase Transformations in the Earth's Mantle , Pages 289-325 8 - Petrology and Elements of Geochemistry , Pages 326-357 APPENDIX , Pages 359-362 Index , Pages 363-368