Surge Tectonics: A New Hypothesis of Global Geodynamics

Preface. 1: Why a New Hypothesis? 1. Introduction. 2. Former and Current Concepts of Earth Dynamics. 3. Conclusion. 2: Unraveling Earth History: Tectonic Data Sets. 1. Data Availability. 2. New Data Acquisition. 3. Data Sets Unexplained in Current Tectonic Models: Foundation for a New Hypothesis. 4. Conclusion. 3: Surge Tectonics. 1. Introduction. 2. Velocity Structure of the Earth's Outer Shells. 3. Contraction. 4. Contraction as an Explanation of Earth Dynamics. 5. Review of Surge and Related Concepts in Earth-Dynamic Theory. 6. Geotectonic Cycle of Surge Tectonics. 7. Pascal's Law - the Core of Tectogenesis. 8. Evidence for the Existence of Surge Channels. 9. Geometry of Surge Channels. 10. Demonstration of Tangential Flow in Surge Channels. 11. Mechanisms for Eastward Surge. 12. Classification of Surge Channels. 13. K Structures. 14. Criteria for the Identification of Surge Channels. 4: Examples of Surge Channels. 1. Ocean-Basin Surge Channels. 2. Surge Channels of Continental Margins. 3. Continental Surge Channels. 4. Surge Channels in Zones of Transtension-Transpression. 5: The Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia - A Regional Application of the Surge-Tectonics Hypothesis. 1. Surge Tectonic Framework. 2. Surge-Tectonic History. 6: Magma Floods, Flood Basalts, and Surge Tectonics. 1. Introduction. 2. Descriptions of Selected Continental Flood-Basalt Provinces. 3. The Useof Geochemistry in Identifying Flood Basalts. 4. Geochemical Comparisons among Basalts Erupted in Different Tectonic Settings. 5. Duration of Individual Basalt Floods. 6. Flood-Basalt Provinces and Frequency in Geologic Time. 7. Non-Basalt Flood Volcanism in Flood-Basalt Provinces. 8. Flood Basalts or Magma Floods? 9. Surge-Tectonics Origin of Magma Floods. 7: Conclusions. Appendix. Bibliography. Index.