Soft Plate and Impact Tectonics

1 Introduction.- 1.1 From Continental Drift to Rigid Plate Tectonics (1910-1968).- 1.2 Soft Plate Tectonics (1987-1996).- 1.3 Beyond Plate Tectonics (1980-?).- 2 Global Tectonics with Rigid Plates: Foundations and Limitations.- 2.1 Plate Tectonics in Oceans and Continents.- 2.2 Plate Rigidity as a Postulate.- 2.3 Effects of Fluids on Deformation and Its Implications for Composition and Rheology of Lithosphere.- 2.4 Strain and Strain Rates in the Lithosphere: Present and Past.- 2.5 Stress in the Lithosphere: Present and Past.- 2.6 Distributed Deformation in the Lithosphere.- 2.7 Kinematics, Strain and Rheology in Plate Boundaries and Deformed Plate Interiors.- 3 Global Tectonics with Deformable Plates.- 3.1 Introduction.- 3.2 Boudinage of Oceanic Lithosphere: Incremental Aseismic Strain.- 3.3 Homogeneous Shortening of Oceanic Lithosphere.- 3.4 Buckling of the Lithosphere.- 3.5 Viscoelastic Rebound.- 3.6 Tectonic Significance of Fractal Dimensions in Seismicity.- 3.7 Finite and Incremental Strain in Discontinuous Deformation Using Scaling Laws for Faulting.- 3.8 Finite Kinematics and Intraplate Strain.- 3.9 Finite Intraplate Strain: Tests and Paths.- 3.10 Conclusion: The Rheology of Oceanic and Continental Lithosphere.- 3.11 Conclusion: The Driving Mechanism.- 3.12 Time-Dependent Mechanical Response of the Oceanic Lithosphere; Strain Partitioning and Deformation Mechanisms.- 4 The Wilson Cycle Revisited.- 4.1 Plate Tectonics as a Dynamic Process.- 4.2 Intraplate Rift Stage.- 4.3 Red Sea Stage.- 4.4 Atlantic Stage.- 4.5 Diffuse Divergent Plate Boundaries: The Azores Triple Junction.- 4.6 Triggering of Subduction.- 4.7 From Passive to Active Margin: West Iberia.- 4.8 Obduction.- 4.9 Pacific Stage.- 4.10 Collision Stage.- 4.11 Intraplate Orogens.- 4.12 Dynamics of the Lithosphere: Inferences from Tectonics.- 4.13 Plate Tectonics Through Time and Space.- 5 The Earth as an Open Dynamic System.- 5.1 Introduction: Impact Tectonics.- 5.2 Tore as an Impact Crater inthe Ocean.-