Bücher der Reihe Frontiers in Earth Sciences

Earth's present-day environments are the outcome of a 4.5 billion year period of evolution reflecting the interaction of global-scale geological and biological processes punctuated by several extraordinary events and episodes that perturbed the entire Earth system.

Convergent plate margins and subduction zones are first order features shaping the Earth. Convergent continental margins combine the majority of processes that affect the internal architecture thermal and geochemical character of continental lith- phere. In addition, the close relationships between active deformation and uplift, m- matism and associated crustal growth, ore formation, the release of more than 90% of global seismic energy at convergent margins, make these plate boundaries imp- tant natural laboratories where mass and energy flux rates can be studied at various scales. Since the advent of plate tectonic theory, it has been recognized that all of these phenomena are intimately related and often governed by feedback mechanisms. Accordingly, subduction orogeny has become an international, high-priority theme in process-oriented, earth-system analysis. In this context, Dewey and Bird (1970) have defined the Andes as the type representative for orogeny and associated p- cessesat convergent margins in their benchmark paper. The Andes, therefore, p- vide an excellent natural laboratory for studying the above processes.

This book focuses on the links between deep earth (mantle) and shallow processes in areas of active tectonics in the Arabian Plate and Surrounding Areas. It also provides key information for energy resources in these areas. The book is a compilation of selected papers from the Task Force of the International Lithosphere Program (ILP). It comprises a set of research studies from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean domain focusing on (1) the architecture, geodynamic evolution and modelling of the Red Sea rift system and its surroundings, and tectonics and sedimentation in the Gulf of Corinth, (2) the crustal architecture and georesources of the North Algerian Offshore, (3) Reservoirs, aquifers and fluid transfers in Saudi Basins, Petroleum systems and salt tectonics in Yemen and (4) Cretaceous-Eocene foreland inversions in Saudi Arabia.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the geological evolution of the Northern Andes and contiguous shield areas, with a focus upon Colombia. Updated geological interpretations are supported by modern lithogeochemical, seismic, gravity and magnetic data and radiogenic isotope and radiometric age determinations. The composite data permits a detailed interpretation of the tectono-magmatic history of the Northern Andean Block, including the Andes of Colombia, northern Ecuador, western Venezuela and eastern Panamá.Tectonic reconstructions based upon characterization of more than thirty litho-tectonic and morpho-structural units, terrane assemblages and tectonic realms, and their bounding suture and fault systems, highlight the intimate and complementary Mesozoic-Cenozoic history of the Northern Andean Block and the Pacific and Caribbean Plates.The complex nature of Northern Andean assembly contrasts with ¿¿classical¿¿ Central Andean ¿¿Cordilleran-type¿¿ orogenic models. Differences render the application of typical Cordilleran-type models inappropriate for the Colombian Andes.The importance of underlying Proterozoic through mid-Mesozoic elements, in the development of Meso-Cenozoic Northern Andean orogeny-phase tectonic configurations is analyzed in the light of spatial-temporal studies and reconstructions related to basin formation, sedimentation, deformation, uplift mechanisms, structural style and magmatic evolution. The pre-Andean architecture of north western South America has played a pre-determinative role in the development of the Northern Andean orogenic system. 16 contributions analyze key stratigraphic, structural, metamorphic, magmatic and tectonic questions, and provide solutions as far as the most recent published field-based studies permit. The volume provides geological interpretations and tectonic models which contrast with repetitive theoretical proposals frequently found in the available literature.

Earth¿s present-day environments are the outcome of a 4.5 billion year period of evolution reflecting the interaction of global-scale geological and biological processes. Punctuating that evolution were several extraordinary events and episodes that perturbed the entire Earth system and led to the creation of new environmental conditions, sometimes even to fundamental changes in how planet Earth operated. Volume 3: Global Events and the Fennoscandian Arctic Russia - Drilling Earth Project represents another kind of illustrated journey through the early Palaeoproterozoic, provided by syntheses, reviews and summaries of the current state of our understanding of a series of global events that resulted in a fundamental change of the Earth System from an anoxic to an oxic state. The book discusses traces of life, possible causes for the Huronian-age glaciations, addresses radical changes in carbon, sulphur and phosphorus cycles during the Palaeoproterozoic, and provides a comprehensive description and a rich photo-documentation of the early Palaeoproterozoic supergiant, petrified oil-field. Terrestrial environments are characterised through a critical review of available data on weathered and calichified surfaces and travertine deposits. Potential implementation of Ca, Mg, Sr, Fe, Mo, U and Re-Os isotope systems for deciphering Palaeoproterozoic seawater chemistry and a change in the redox-state of water and sedimentary columns are discussed. The volume considers in detail the definition of the oxic atmosphere, possible causes for the oxygen rise, and considers the oxidation of terrestrial environment not as a single event, but a slow-motion process lasting over hundreds of millions of years. Finally, the book provides a roadmap as to how the FAR-DEEP cores may facilitate future interesting science and provide a new foundation for education in earth-science community. Welcome to the illustrative journey through one of the most exciting periods ofplanet Earth!

The line-scan images collected in this book represent the most accurate optical record of Antarctic ice cores ever presented, providing an invaluable resource for glaciologists and climate modellers, as well as a fascinating compilation of ice core images for Antarctica enthusiasts.

They are organized into five main topics: Subduction zone geodynamics, Seismic tomography and anisotropy, Great subduction zone earthquakes, Seismogenic zone characterization, Continental and ridge subduction processes.

They are organized into five main topics: Subduction zone geodynamics, Seismic tomography and anisotropy, Great subduction zone earthquakes, Seismogenic zone characterization, Continental and ridge subduction processes.

This is the second of three volumes that survey the Palaeoproterozoic Eon with a focus on Fennoscandian Shield geology, reviewing early Palaeoproterozoic events coincident with Earth's progressive oxygenation. Includes photos of the FAR-DEEP core collection.

Arc-continent collision has been one of the important tectonic processes in the formation of mountain belts throughout geological time, and it continues to be so today along tectonically active plate boundaries such as those in the SW Pacific or the Caribbean.

Earth's present-day environments are the outcome of a 4.5 billion year period of evolution reflecting the interaction of global-scale geological and biological processes punctuated by several extraordinary events and episodes that perturbed the entire Earth system.

This is the third of three volumes that survey the Palaeoproterozoic Eon with a focus on Fennoscandian Shield geology, reviewing early Palaeoproterozoic events coincident with Earth's progressive oxygenation. Includes photos of the FAR-DEEP core collection.

This is the second of three volumes that survey the Palaeoproterozoic Eon with a focus on Fennoscandian Shield geology, reviewing early Palaeoproterozoic events coincident with Earth's progressive oxygenation. Includes photos of the FAR-DEEP core collection.

This book will constitute the proceedings of the ILP Workshop held in Abu Dhabi in December 2009. It will include a reprint of the 11 papers published in the December 2010 issue of the AJGS, together with 11 other original papers.

This book provides the first comprehensive overview of a complete subduction orogen, the Andes. To date the results provide the densest and most highly resolved geophysical image of an active subduction orogen.

This book will constitute the proceedings of the ILP Workshop held in Abu Dhabi in December 2009. It will include a reprint of the 11 papers published in the December 2010 issue of the AJGS, together with 11 other original papers.

The 25 papers in the proceedings of the first meeting of the ILP task force on Sedimentary Basins, December 2005, Institut Francais du Petrole aim to bridge advances in the understanding of surface processes, field investigations, high resolution imagery, analogue-numerical modelling and hydrocarbon exploration in Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins.