Earth’s gradients as the engine of plate tectonics and earthquakes

Abstract The processes occurring on the Earth are controlled by several gradients. surface of Planet is featured complex geological patterns produced both endogenous and exogenous phenomena. lack direct investigations still makes interior poorly understood prevents complete clarification mechanisms ruling geodynamics tectonics. Nowadays, slab-pull considered force with greatest impact plate motions, but also ridge-push, trench suction physico-chemical heterogeneities thought to play an important role. However, counterarguments suggest that these insufficient explain While large part scientific community agreed either bottom-up or top-down driven mantle convection cause lithospheric displacements, geodetic observations geodynamic models support astronomical contribution motions. Moreover, evidences indicate tectonic plates follow a mainstream how lithosphere has roughly westerly drift respect asthenospheric mantle. An even more wide-open debate rises for occurrence earthquakes, which should be framed within different setting, affects spatial temporal properties seismicity. In extensional regions, dominant source energy given gravitational potential, whereas in strike-slip faults thrusts, earthquakes mainly dissipate elastic potential indeed. present article, review most significant results last years field earthquake geology following common thread gradients, ultimately shape our planet.