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The world's mid-ocean ridges form a single, connected global ridge system that is part of every ocean, and is the longest mountain range in the world. Geologically active, mid-ocean ridges are key sites of tectonic movement, intimately involved in seafloor spreading. This coursebook presents a multidisciplinary approach to the science of mid-ocean ridges – essential for a complete understanding of global tectonics and geodynamics. Designed for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, it will also provide a valuable reference for professionals in relevant fields. Background chapters provide a historical introduction and an overview of research techniques, with succeeding chapters covering the structure of the lithosphere and crust, and volcanic, tectonic and hydrothermal processes. A summary and synthesis chapter recaps essential points to consolidate new learning. Accessible to students and professionals working in marine geology, plate tectonics, geophysics, geodynamics, volcanism and oceanography, this is the ideal introduction to a key global phenomenon.
This book can benefit the nonspecialist who wants to keep up with work on magmatism and tectonics, as well as researchers working on mid-ocean ridges."--BOOK JACKET.
Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 148. Mid-ocean ridges play an important role in the plate-tectonic cycle of our planet. Extending some 50–60,000 km across the ocean-floor, the global mid-ocean ridge system is the site of creation of the oceanic crust and lithosphere that covers more than two thirds of the Earth's exterior. Approximately 75% of Earth's total heat flux occurs through oceanic crust, much of it at mid-ocean ridges through complex processes associated with magma solidification, heat transfer, and cooling of young oceanic lithosphere. While the majority of this heat loss occurs through conduction, approximately one third of the total heat loss at mid-ocean ridges is influenced by a convective process: hydrothermal circulation.
Over the past 20 years, geologists have come to realize that the real object of their studies is the Earth, and that their favorite subjects, whether basalts, earthquakes, or the Tibetan plateau (for example) are only the means to understanding the Earth itself as a complete entity. Geology has thus acquired aglobai perspective. The study of any particular regional problem is only of general interest in providing good foundations to investigate general phe nomena. But this same particular problem can only be completely understood ifits global context is taken into account. The geology of the Andes is only one of many examples of subcontinental subduc tion and, as such, its study contributes ...
Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 144. Awareness has grown over the past several years that the subseafloor may harbor a substantial biosphere sustained by volcanic heat and chemical fluxes from the Earth's interior. This realization has profound scientific implications for questions concerning the origins of life, the true extent of Earth's biosphere, and the search for life on other planets. At mid-ocean spreading centers, the fluxes that sustain life are the highest, and the hydrothermal fluids in which micro-organisms grow are readily accessible on the seafloor. In addition, periodic volcanic eruptions flush fluids and microbes from the subsurface, and volcanic gases are believed to drive spectacular microbial blooms. Although ridges are challenging locations in which to work, they are unique in the oceans because of the diversity and dynamic nature of their subsurface environments.
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