Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
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One plate is subducted below another at convergent boundaries, and crustal thickening in the form of
orogenic uplift compensates for the resultant crustal shortening. Denser oceanic crust slides more easily
beneath light continental crust and drags adjacent sea-floor sediments and continental slivers into a remelt
zone. The resulting volcanic island arc complex eventually migrates and welds on to the continent.
Continental collision orogens are strongly metamorphosed and intruded by granite batholiths.
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These processes cycle between supercontinent-fragmentary continent and associated single-fragmentary
ocean phases and back again over approximately 500 Ma. Plate tectonics creates the fundamental
architectural units of Earth's surface, potential energy for denudation through uplift, spatial patterns of
rock formation, alteration and destruction and major impacts on climate and the biosphere.
FURTHER READING
Hancock, P. L., and Skinner, B. J. (eds) (2000) The Oxford Companion to the Earth, Oxford and New York: Oxford University
Press. This topic remains a superb compendium for physical geographers, Earth and environmental scientists, with
over 900 individual entries covering more than 1,000 illustrated pages. It is a major reference work combining key
elements of an Earth science glossary, dictionary and source of short, definitive articles and cross-references in a very
readable format, edited by two well known authors.
Ince, M. (2007) The Rough Guide to the Earth, London: Rough Guides/Penguin topics. This is the perfect foil to the other
texts, and anything but rough! Its pocket-size 300 pages describe the essence of every major geosphere system,
crammed with illustrations, and serves equally well as an introduction or revision text.
Kearey, P., and Vine, F. J. (2008) Global Tectonics, third edition, Oxford: Blackwell. This is the updated edition of an important
but readable text on plate tectonics, supported by an unobtrusive level of technical explanation and by simple line
drawings rather than photographs.
Keller, E. A. and Pinter, N. (2002) Active Tectonics: earthquakes, uplift and landscapes, second edition, Englewood Cliffs,
NJ: Prentice-Hall. An excellent, concisely written and easy-to-read text looking at the tectonic geomorphology of the
modern Earth. Simple cartoons aid the understanding of more difficult processes, and the topic brings the subject very
much to life.
Ruddiman, W. F. (2001) Earth's Climate: past and future, New York: Freeman. A text of rare origins and quality, written in
accessible form by one of the leading international climate change scientists, who swaps his ocean-drilling programme
boots to tell a fascinating story. Covering so much more than just climate, he crafts the interactions of tectonics, oceans,
ice sheets and the human land surface into a climate system masterpiece.
WEB RESOURCES
http://www.bgs.ac.uk T
he British Geological Survey website, under the aegis of the UK Natural Environment Research
Councils, provides an active, regularly updated source of data, information, events and activities of geological and related
interest - primarily within the United Kingdom but also of wider related international interest. An excellent source of
earth science data, services, products (including maps, geo-publications, images) and educational interest.
http://www.usgs.gov A
comprehensive source for the wide range of work and specialist interests of the United States
Geological Survey. Its home page directories link directly into comprehensive cover of US volcano observatories,
earthquake, flood and tsunami watches and other geological aspects of hazards and human health/well-being, with
daily updating of active events. It is also a good source of geological images, information and interactive education.
