A conceptual shift is overdue in geodynamics. Popular models that present plate tectonics as being driven by bottom-heated whole-mantle convection, with or without plumes, are based on obsolete assumptions, are contradicted by much evidence, and fail to account for observed plate interactions. Subduction-hinge rollback is the key to viable mechanisms. The Pacifi c spreads rapidly yet shrinks by...

Metamorphism associated with orogenesis provides a mineral record that may be inverted to yield ambient apparent thermal gradients. On modern Earth, tectonic settings with lower thermal gradients are characteristic of subduction zones whereas those with higher thermal gradients are characteristic of backarcs and orogenic hinterlands. The duality of thermal environments reflects the asymmetry of...

A fundamental objective in studies of climate-erosion-tectonics coupling is to document convincing correlation between observable indicators of these processes on the scale of a mountain range. The eastern Himalayas are a unique range to quantify the contribution of tectonics and climate to long-term erosion rates, because uniform and steady tectonics have persisted for several million years, w...

the study area is the rahmat anticline. this is located in fars province (sw fold simple zagros belt). the aims of this study are morphotectonic studies and structural analysis in several parts of area. for this purpose: 1) morphotectonic indices, drainage basin shape index (bs), mountain front sinuosity index (smf) and valley floor width – height ratio (vf) were measured by digital elevation m...

the present article is a review of a palaeobiogeographic analysis of jurassic ostracods from east africa, india and madagascar and includes also some general remarks on palaeobiogeography, biodiversity and ostracod ecology.the palaeobiogeographic study shows the high significance of this microfossil group for the reconstruction of palaeogeographic processes, particularly plate tectonic developm...

A simple model which relates the rate of seafloor creation and the age of the oceanic lithosphere at subduction to the rate of continental accretion can successfully explain the apparent differences between Archaean and Phanerozoic terrains in terms of plate tectonics. The model has been derived using the following parameters: (1) the spreading rate at mid-ocean ridges; (2) the age of the ocean...