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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