Earth as an Evolving Planetary System (eBook)

Cover 1
Contents 8
Preface 6
Chapter 1. Earth Systems 16
Earth as a Planetary System 16
Structure of the Earth 18
Plate Tectonics 20
Is the Earth Unique? 23
Interacting Earth Systems 24
Further Reading 26
Chapter 2. The Crust 28
Introduction 28
Crustal Types 29
Continent Size 33
Seismic Crustal Structure 34
Heat Flow 40
Exhumation and Cratonization 45
Processes in the Continental Crust 49
Crustal Composition 51
Crustal Provinces and Terranes 62
Crustal Province and Terrane Boundaries 67
The United Plates of America 68
Supercontinents 69
Further Reading 72
Chapter 3. Tectonic Settings 74
Introduction 74
Ocean Ridges 75
Tectonic Settings Related to Mantle Plumes. 81
Continental Rifts 89
Cratons and Passive Margins 92
Arc Systems 93
Orogens 105
Uncertain Tectonic Settings 112
Mineral and Energy Deposits 122
Plate Tectonics with Time 127
Further Reading 129
Chapter 4. The Mantle 130
Introduction 130
Seismic Structure of the Mantle 130
Mantle Upwellings and Geoid Anomalies 133
Temperature Distribution in the Mantle 135
The Lithosphere 137
The Low-Velocity Zone 147
The Transition Zone 148
The Lower Mantle 152
Plate-Driving Forces 155
Mantle Plumes 156
Mantle Geochemical Components 161
Convection in the Mantle 169
Further Reading 175
Chapter 5. The Core 176
Introduction 176
Core Temperature 177
The Inner Core 177
Composition of the Core 179
Age of the Core 181
Generation of the Earth's Magnetic Field 182
Origin of the Core 187
Where Do We Go From Here? 188
Further Reading 189
Chapter 6. The Atmosphere and Oceans 190
Introduction 190
General Features of the Atmosphere 190
The Primitive Atmosphere 192
The Secondary Atmosphere 193
The Carbon Cycle 197
The Precambrian Atmosphere 199
The Origin of Oxygen 200
Phanerozoic Atmospheric History 211
The Oceans 213
Paleoclimates 225
Conclusions 235
Further Reading 236
Chapter 7. Living Systems 238
General Features 238
Origin of Life 238
First Fossils 248
Origin of Photosynthesis 250
Tree of Life 251
Stromatolites 253
Appearance of Eukaryotes 254
Origin of Metazoans 255
Neoproterozoic Multicellular Organisms 256
Evolution of Phanerozoic Life Forms 259
Biologic Benchmarks 260
Mass Extinctions 260
Further Reading 277
Chapter 8. Crustal and Mantle Evolution 280
Introduction 280
Earth's Thermal History 280
Earth's Primitive Crust 281
Earth's Oldest Rocks and Minerals 285
Crustal Origin 291
How Continents Grew 292
Continental Growth Rates 297
Secular Changes in the Crust 307
Secular Changes in the Mantle 317
Evolution of the CrustƒMantle System 325
Further Reading 328
Chapter 9. The Supercontinent Cycle and Mantle-Plume Events 330
Introduction 330
Supercontinent Cycle 331
Supercontinents, Mantle Plumes, and Earth Systems 342
Mantle-Plume Events Through Time 346
What Causes a Mantle-Plume Event? 362
Mantle-Plume Events and Supercontinents 365
Further Reading 369
Chapter 10. Comparative Planetary Evolution 370
Introduction 370
Impact Chronology in the Inner Solar System 371
Members of the Solar System 371
Chemical Composition of the Earth and the Moon 396
Age and Early Evolution of the Earth 398
Comparative Evolution of the Atmospheres of the Earth, Venus, and Mars 400
Continuously Habitable Zone 403
Condensation and Accretion of the Planets 403
Origin of the Moon 411
Earth's Rotational History 416
Comparative Planetary Evolution. 417
Further Reading 420
References 422
Index 458
Color Plate Section 464