Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
May 2006
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agusm.t41a..07l&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #T41A-07
Mathematics
Logic
8149 Planetary Tectonics (5475)
Scientific paper
Tectonic activity maps of the Earth: Final report Lowman, Paul.D.,Jr. (Paul.D.Lowman@nasa.gov), Goddard Space Flight Center (Code 698),Greenbelt, MD 20771 United States This paper presents final versions of a series of global tectonic and volcanic activity maps whose compilation began in 1977 as part of the NASA Crustal Dynamics Project. They show tectonic and volcanic features active within the last one million years, a period long enough to be truly representative of present activity but short enough that structures produced by tectonism and volcanism are still geomorphically recognizable. The primary maps have been prepared with equatorial van der Grinten and Robinson projections, both centered on the prime meridian to avoid splitting land masses. Polar maps have also been prepared showing Arctic and Antarctic tectonism, volcanism,and seismicity. Robinson projection maps are in two versions, one with a digital topographic base, the other schematic. Supporting maps on matching scales and projections include global seismicity (200,855 epicenters, 1963-1998), satellite-derived gravity maps, and VLBI site motions. Sea- floor spreading rates are from NUVEL-1. The maps have been widely used in scientific and educational publications, and have been frequently accessed on the Internet. They bring out several aspects of global tectonic and volcanic activity not shown well on conventional maps. These include intraplate tectonism, seismicity , and volcanism. They show the unrealistic nature of most "plate maps" in continental areas, plate boundaries being generally broad and diffuse, and many supposed plates (e.g., Anatolian) being pervaded by seismic activity. True continental margins, the sialic/mafic crust boundaries, are far more irregular than generally shown; isolated fragments of sialic crust (e.g. Seychelles) are also brought out by the maps. Problems unsolved by classic plate tectonic theory, such as the fact that the African and Antarctic plates are surrounded by spreading centers,are illustrated. Intraplate volcanism is more widespread, viewed on a million year time scale, than generally realized, suggesting the importance of mantle plumes. The maps show anomalies based on choice of reference frames; for example, space geodesy sites in western Europe appear to be moving northeast if the Pacific Plate is taken as the reference, whereas a more geologically realistic motion, to the southeast, results if stable North America is used.
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