Convergent plate margins and subduction zones are first order features shaping the Earth. Convergent continental margins combine the majority of processes that affect the internal architecture thermal and geochemical character of continental lith- phere. In addition, the close relationships between active deformation and uplift, m- matism and associated crustal growth, ore formation, the release of more than 90% of global seismic energy at convergent margins, make these plate boundaries imp- tant natural laboratories where mass and energy flux rates can be studied at various scales. Since the advent of plate tectonic theory, it has been recognized that all of these phenomena are intimately related and often governed by feedback mechanisms. Accordingly, subduction orogeny has become an international, high-priority theme in process-oriented, earth-system analysis. In this context, Dewey and Bird (1970) have defined the Andes as the type representative for orogeny and associated p- cessesat convergent margins in their benchmark paper. The Andes, therefore, p- vide an excellent natural laboratory for studying the above processes.
Reviews
From the reviews:
"This beautifully produced book is a comprehensive summary of the main findings and their implications in an easily accessible format. … Overall the book reflects the enormous investment in geophysical data represented by this long-term project, and the resulting geophysical interpretations of crustal structure and processes. … I recommend this book as an indispensable resource for serious researchers interested in the structure of this unique, active, subduction-related mountain system." (R. J. Pankhurst, Geological Magazine, Vol. 145, 2008)
Editors and Affiliations
Department 3 Geodynamik, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Onno Oncken
Departamento de Geología, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
Guillermo Chong
Petrologie, Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Gerhard Franz
Abteilung Geophysik, Institut für Geowissenschaften, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Hans-Jürgen Götze
Departamento Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Victor A. Ramos
Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
Manfred R. Strecker
Fachrichtung Geophysik, Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Peter Wigger
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The Andes
Book Subtitle: Active Subduction Orogeny
Editors: Onno Oncken, Guillermo Chong, Gerhard Franz, Peter Giese, Hans-Jürgen Götze, Victor A. Ramos, Manfred R. Strecker, … Peter Wigger