Plates vs Plumes (ePub)

Since the advent of the mantle plume hypothesis in 1971, scientists
have been faced with the problem that its predictions are not
confirmed by observation. For thirty years, the usual reaction has
been to adapt the hypothesis in numerous ways. As a result, the
multitude of current plume variants now amounts to an unfalsifiable
hypothesis.

In the early 21st century demand became relentless for a theory
that can explain melting anomalies in a way that fits the
observations naturally and is forward-predictive. From this the
Plate hypothesis emerged-the exact inverse of the Plume
hypothesis. The Plate hypothesis attributes melting anomalies to
shallow effects directly related to plate tectonics. It rejects the
hypothesis that surface volcanism is driven by convection in the
deep mantle.

Earth Science is currently in the midst of the kind of
paradigm-challenging debate that occurs only rarely in any field.
This volume comprises its first handbook. It reviews the Plate and
Plume hypotheses, including a clear statement of the former.
Thereafter it follows an observational approach, drawing widely
from many volcanic regions in chapters on vertical motions of
Earth's crust, magma volumes, time-progressions of volcanism,
seismic imaging, mantle temperature and geochemistry.

This text:

* Deals with a paradigm shift in Earth Science - some say the
most important since plate tectonics

* Is analogous to Wegener's The Origin of Continents and
Oceans

* Is written to be accessible to scientists and students from all
specialities

This book is indispensable to Earth scientists from all
specialties who are interested in this new subject. It is suitable
as a reference work for those teaching relevant classes, and an
ideal text for advanced undergraduates and graduate students
studying plate tectonics and related topics.

Visit Gillian's own website at http://www.mantleplumes.org