Structure and Fate of Subducting Slabs (Advances in Geophysics) [Paperback]

Thorne Lay (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 012439860X | ISBN-13: 978-0124398603 | Publication Date: December 31, 1996

This book is a paperback reprint of Advances in Geophysics, Volume 35 (1994, Academic Press). It provides an overview of the dramatic progress made in illuminating the properties of deep slabs and the surrounding mantle since the introduction of the plate tectonics model to the earth sciences more than 25 years ago. The thermal and chemical characteristics of the subducted lithosphere are determined through thermal and petrological modeling, with seismological observations providing critical constraints on model parameters. Down-wellings of the oceanic lithosphere play a critical role in plate tectonics by recycling to the mantle material that has risen at mid-ocean ridges and cooled at the earth's surface. To assist future efforts in developing detailed thermal and petrological models of oceanic lithosphere down-wellings, this volume includes a comprehensive review of seismological observations and models. A range of seismological procedures are considered, from travel time constraints on seismic velocity anomalies in the subducting lithospheric slabs, to wave conversions and reflections off internal and external slab boundaries. An extensive reference list will be useful to earth science researchers and seismological specialists as a directory to most of the critical literature on slab structure.
* Provides a comprehensive, chronological summary of seismological studies of slab structure
* Reviews 25-year history of progress in the field
* Distills the many contributions that provide a foundation for mastering the roots of the ideas and observations underlying todays paradigms
* Includes an extensive bibliography
* Effectively organized for course presentation

Editorial Reviews

Review

What Structure and Fate of Subducting Slabs does well is provide the most comprehensive summary available of the seismological literature on the structure of suducting slabs...This is a landmark work and the best review of its kind available. All geophysicists seriously interested in subduction and mantle processes should consider having a copy on their shelves."
--CLIFF FROHLICH, Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin.
"Thorne [Lay] keeps the book focused on the 'structure' of subducting slabs and gives a very complete summary of the studies until the early 1990's...I think it is an excellent review of progress to date...on the structure of subducted slabs."
--DR. KEN CREAGER, University of Washington

From the Back Cover

Seismology now reveals the structure and fate of deep subducting oceanic slabs. In place of mere sketches, computer-generated images of sinking slabs can now be derived from thousands and even millions of seismic recordings.

To assist future efforts in developing detailed thermal and petrological models of oceanic lithosphere down-wellings, this volume includes a comprehensive review of seismological observations and models. The seismological procedures considered range from travel time constraints on seismic velocity anomalies in the subducting lithospheric slabs to wave conversions and reflections off internal and external slab boundaries. The extensive reference list will be useful to earth science researchers and seismological specialists as a directory to significant literature on slab structure.

Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press (December 31, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 012439860X
• ISBN-13: 978-0124398603
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,623,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This book is misleading, July 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Structure and Fate of Subducting Slabs (Advances in Geophysics) (Paperback)

The Fate of Subducting Slabs should not be the same as the Stories of Subducting Slabs. Some materials choosen for this book have no real scientific value.