PSN-L Email List Message

Subject: Availability of New Book on Iceland Geodynamics
From: "Erich Kern" efkern@.............
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 2006 23:24:02 -0800





********************************
AVAILABILITY OF NEW BOOK ON ICELAND GEODYNAMICS
From: Robert I. Tilling 
********************************

Iceland is one of the few=97as well as the largest, well-exposed, and=20
readily accessible=97areas where Earth=92s mid-oceanic ridge system =
emerges=20
above sea level. Because of this unique geologic setting, Iceland serves =

as an ideal natural laboratory for comprehensive, multi-disciplinary=20
investigations of the active tectonic and volcanic processes associated=20
with divergent plate boundaries, along which about 75 % of the world=92s =

lava is erupted. Since it tops an inferred hotspot, Iceland also affords =

a diagnostic locale to study the processes and products of the=20
interaction between a mantle plume and a mid-ocean ridge. Thus, the=20
monitoring, characterization, and interpretation of the seismicity,=20
crustal deformation, and volcanism in Iceland have immense transfer=20
value in understanding comparable dynamic processes operative along=20
other segments of the global 65,000 km-long mid-oceanic ridge=20
system=97mostly hidden deep beneath the sea and logistically challenging =

for detailed study.

For the reasons mentioned above, anyone interested in the tectonics and=20
volcanic activity along divergent plate boundaries will find quite=20
useful a recently published book by Dr. Freysteinn Sigmundsson that=20
succinctly synthesizes in a single volume the results of numerous=20
diverse studies made in Iceland in recent decades. The title of his book =
is:

ICELAND GEODYNAMICS: Crustal Deformation and Divergent Plate Tectonics=20
(2006, Springer-Praxis, Chichester, U.K., 209 pp not counting a 22-page=20
section of color illustrations; $ 169.00, as priced on=20
).

Formal reviews of this book doubtless will be forthcoming in the coming=20
months, but I simply wish to inform the volcanologic community of the=20
availability of this new reference work and to make some informal =
comments.

After completing his Ph.D. (1992) with Prof. Roger Bilham at the=20
University of Colorado, Dr. Sigmundsson worked at the Nordic=20
Volcanological Institute through 2004 (five years as Director,=20
1999-2004); he now is with the Nordic Volcanological Centre (Institute=20
of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland). Throughout his career, he has =

focused on studies of crustal deformation and volcanology, and, not=20
surprisingly, this research thrust=97utilizing conventional and=20
satellite-based geodetic techniques=97pervades the book. While the =
linking=20
common thread of the book is clearly the monitoring of crustal=20
deformation, Sigmundsson nonetheless nicely balances his treatment by=20
furnishing relevant geological, seismological, and volcanological=20
contexts. The breadth of the book is evident from the wide range of=20
topics covered in the nine chapters: 1) Introduction; 2) Mantle=20
plume-mid-ocean ridge interaction in the North Atlantic; 3) Tectonic=20
framework; 4) Crustal structure of Iceland; 5) Volcano dynamics; 6) The=20
plate-spreading deformation cycle; 7) Breaking the crust: Seismicity and =

faulting; 8) Glacial isostasy and sea-level change: Rapid vertical=20
movements and changes in volcanic production rates; and 9) Iceland=20
geodynamics: Outlook. In addition to a list of abbreviations and a brief =

index, the book also contains two useful appendices: Appendix A. The=20
Icelandic Language (providing examples of transliterations of Icelandic=20
names for people and places); and Appendix B. Notation (of variables in=20
formulae that appear in the book).

Like seemingly all Icelandic scientists, Freysteinn Sigmundsson has a=20
masterful command of the English language even though it is not his=20
native tongue. Consequently, his tersely, but clearly, written slim=20
volume packs a wealth of information about the current state of=20
knowledge about Iceland geodynamics. There are no superfluous words in=20
his book! An added bonus is that Sigmudsson=92s summary is not only=20
comprehensive but also fully up-to-date, including the thoughtful=20
analysis of studies published in the scientific literature as recently=20
as 2005. For example, in discussions concerning the inferred Iceland=20
mantle plume, Sigmundsson considers the divergent points expressed in=20
the current, ongoing vigorous scientific debate about the existence,=20
configuration (deep vs. non-deep), fixity, and longevity of mantle=20
plumes, as well as alternative models to explain Iceland and other=20
hotspots. In the Preface (p. xi), Sigmundsson hopes that his =93=85book =
will=20
provide a useful overview of selected aspects of Iceland geodynamics and =

crustal deformation, provide insights into the physical processes of=20
spreading and related processes in general, and stimulate further=20
research on how the Earth deforms.=94 In my opinion, there is no doubt=20
whatsoever that his hope will be fully realized.

=97Robert I. Tilling, Scientist Emeritus, Volcano Hazards Team
U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025, U.S.A.








 


********************************
AVAILABIL= ITY OF=20 NEW BOOK ON ICELAND GEODYNAMICS
From: Robert I. Tilling <rtilling@........>
**********= **********************

Iceland=20 is one of the few=97as well as the largest, well-exposed, and =
readily=20 accessible=97areas where Earth=92s mid-oceanic ridge system emerges =
above sea=20 level. Because of this unique geologic setting, Iceland serves
as an = ideal=20 natural laboratory for comprehensive, multi-disciplinary =
investigations of=20 the active tectonic and volcanic processes associated
with divergent = plate=20 boundaries, along which about 75 % of the world=92s
lava is erupted. = Since it=20 tops an inferred hotspot, Iceland also affords
a diagnostic locale = to study=20 the processes and products of the
interaction between a mantle plume = and a=20 mid-ocean ridge. Thus, the
monitoring, characterization, and = interpretation=20 of the seismicity,
crustal deformation, and volcanism in Iceland = have=20 immense transfer
value in understanding comparable dynamic processes = operative along
other segments of the global 65,000 km-long = mid-oceanic=20 ridge
system=97mostly hidden deep beneath the sea and logistically = challenging=20
for detailed study.

For the reasons mentioned above, anyone=20 interested in the tectonics and
volcanic activity along divergent = plate=20 boundaries will find quite
useful a recently published book by Dr.=20 Freysteinn Sigmundsson that
succinctly synthesizes in a single = volume the=20 results of numerous
diverse studies made in Iceland in recent = decades. The=20 title of his book is:

ICELAND GEODYNAMICS: Crustal Deformation = and=20 Divergent Plate Tectonics
(2006, Springer-Praxis, Chichester, U.K., = 209 pp=20 not counting a 22-page
section of color illustrations; $ 169.00, as = priced=20 on
<springeronline.com>).

Formal reviews of this book = doubtless=20 will be forthcoming in the coming
months, but I simply wish to = inform the=20 volcanologic community of the
availability of this new reference = work and to=20 make some informal comments.

After completing his Ph.D. (1992) = with Prof.=20 Roger Bilham at the
University of Colorado, Dr. Sigmundsson worked = at the=20 Nordic
Volcanological Institute through 2004 (five years as = Director,=20
1999-2004); he now is with the Nordic Volcanological Centre = (Institute=20
of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland). Throughout his career, he = has=20
focused on studies of crustal deformation and volcanology, and, not=20
surprisingly, this research thrust=97utilizing conventional and=20
satellite-based geodetic techniques=97pervades the book. While the = linking=20
common thread of the book is clearly the monitoring of crustal=20
deformation, Sigmundsson nonetheless nicely balances his treatment = by=20
furnishing relevant geological, seismological, and volcanological=20
contexts. The breadth of the book is evident from the wide range of=20
topics covered in the nine chapters: 1) Introduction; 2) Mantle=20
plume-mid-ocean ridge interaction in the North Atlantic; 3) Tectonic =
framework; 4) Crustal structure of Iceland; 5) Volcano dynamics; 6) = The=20
plate-spreading deformation cycle; 7) Breaking the crust: Seismicity = and=20
faulting; 8) Glacial isostasy and sea-level change: Rapid vertical=20
movements and changes in volcanic production rates; and 9) Iceland=20
geodynamics: Outlook. In addition to a list of abbreviations and a = brief=20
index, the book also contains two useful appendices: Appendix A. The =
Icelandic Language (providing examples of transliterations of = Icelandic=20
names for people and places); and Appendix B. Notation (of variables = in=20
formulae that appear in the book).

Like seemingly all = Icelandic=20 scientists, Freysteinn Sigmundsson has a
masterful command of the = English=20 language even though it is not his
native tongue. Consequently, his = tersely,=20 but clearly, written slim
volume packs a wealth of information about = the=20 current state of
knowledge about Iceland geodynamics. There are no=20 superfluous words in
his book! An added bonus is that Sigmudsson=92s = summary=20 is not only
comprehensive but also fully up-to-date, including the=20 thoughtful
analysis of studies published in the scientific = literature as=20 recently
as 2005. For example, in discussions concerning the = inferred=20 Iceland
mantle plume, Sigmundsson considers the divergent points = expressed=20 in
the current, ongoing vigorous scientific debate about the = existence,=20
configuration (deep vs. non-deep), fixity, and longevity of mantle=20
plumes, as well as alternative models to explain Iceland and other=20
hotspots. In the Preface (p. xi), Sigmundsson hopes that his = =93=85book will=20
provide a useful overview of selected aspects of Iceland geodynamics = and=20
crustal deformation, provide insights into the physical processes of =
spreading and related processes in general, and stimulate further=20
research on how the Earth deforms.=94 In my opinion, there is no = doubt=20
whatsoever that his hope will be fully realized.

=97Robert I. = Tilling,=20 Scientist Emeritus, Volcano Hazards Team
U.S. Geological Survey, = Menlo Park,=20 California 94025, U.S.A.


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