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The driving mechanism of plate tectonics
Author(s) -
Turcotte Donald L.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg013i003p00333
Subject(s) - volcanism , plate tectonics , geology , mantle (geology) , tectonics , geophysics , uranium , earth science , thorium , seismology , physics , nuclear physics
With the general acceptance of plate tectonics there is the question of its cause. An energy source is required which can account for the earth's heat loss, seismicity, volcanism, and tectonics. The probable energy source is the heat production due to radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium [ Lliboutry , 1972; Turcotte and Oxburgh , 1972]. Alternative energy sources are differentiation processes in the core and mantle and solid earth tides.