Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 What is the lithosphere?
- 2 Age of the lithosphere
- 3 Seismic structure of the lithosphere
- 4 Thermal regime of the lithosphere from heat flow data
- 5 Thermal state of the lithosphere from non-thermal data
- 6 CBL and lithospheric density from petrologic and geophysical data
- 7 Electrical structure of the lithosphere
- 8 Flexure and rheology
- 9 Evolution of the lithosphere
- 10 Summary of lithospheric properties
- References
- Subject index
- Geographical index
10 - Summary of lithospheric properties
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 What is the lithosphere?
- 2 Age of the lithosphere
- 3 Seismic structure of the lithosphere
- 4 Thermal regime of the lithosphere from heat flow data
- 5 Thermal state of the lithosphere from non-thermal data
- 6 CBL and lithospheric density from petrologic and geophysical data
- 7 Electrical structure of the lithosphere
- 8 Flexure and rheology
- 9 Evolution of the lithosphere
- 10 Summary of lithospheric properties
- References
- Subject index
- Geographical index
Summary
“Evidence obtained under different experimental conditions cannot be comprehended within a single picture, but must be regarded as complementary in the sense that only the totality of the phenomena exhausts the possible information about the objects.”
Niels BohrOriginally, and following usual practice, my intention was to write a summary chapter. The topic of the book suggested several options for its structuring: (a) similar to the general structure of the book, by methods and techniques; (b) by major tectonic provinces; or (c) by definitions of the lithosphere and boundary layers. Now, having completed the rest of the book, is it is clear that none of these strategies will be appropriate. On one hand, it will result in significant repetition of what has been already written. On the other hand, lithospheric research remains a very active field with new data and new interpretations coming out on a regular basis. Many issues related to lithosphere structure and evolution are still subject to debate, and new results often provide unexpected evidence for or against highly speculative or well-established concepts. The goal of the book, in any case, is not to promote a certain line of interpretation, but instead to show the complexity of the subject and incompleteness of our present knowledge and understanding of many, sometimes fundamental, issues related to lithospheric processes. For these reasons, any short summary would be a dangerous oversimplification.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The LithosphereAn Interdisciplinary Approach, pp. 670 - 677Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011