Earth is the only terrestrial planet in our solar system where an oceanic plate subducts beneath an overriding plate. Although the initiation of plate subduction requires extremely weak boundaries between strong plates, the way in which oceanic mantle rheologically weakens remains unknown. Here we show that shear-enhanced hydration reactions contribute to the generation and maintenance of weak ...

[1] Lineaments in the gravity field and associated chains of volcanic ridges are widespread on the Pacific plate but are not yet explained by plate tectonics. Recent studies have proposed that they are warps and cracks in the plate caused by uneven thermal contraction of the cooling lithosphere. We show that the large thermoelastic stress produced by top-down cooling is optimally released by li...

We review recent developments in the study of volcanism and tectonics on Venus. Venus’s crust is basaltic, dry, and probably about 30 km thick. The mantle convects, giving rise to plumes, and has a similar composition and mean temperature (∼1300◦C), but a higher viscosity (∼1020 Pa s), than that of the Earth. Inferred melt generation rates constrain the lithospheric thickness to between 80 and ...

Non-fuel marine minerals are reviewed from the perspective of resources and their value as active analogs that can advance understanding of types of ancient ore deposits that formed in marine settings. The theory of plate tectonics is the largest influence in expanding our vision ofmarineminerals and in developing our understanding of geologic controls ofmineralization in space and time. Prior ...

1. Distribution of earthquakes on the Earth 2. Reasons for earthquakes in the Earth's crust 3. Types of the Earth's lithosphere and Plate Tectonics 4. Types of seismic waves 5. Measurement of the size of an earthquake 6. The models of earthquake source 7. Nature of deep (mantle) earthquakes 8. Earthquake recurrence interval study 9. Earthquakes as a motor for geodynamic processes 10. Correspond...

japan is a region of active plate tectonics, well known for its japanese trench a geological feature evolving as a result of north pacific (np) oceanic plate pushing and sub-ducting underneath the north american (na) plate. multiple plate tectonics have been continuously recorded in the region since 1979 by the network of gps stations called geonet. the network operating and monitoring more tha...