Earthquake Thermodynamics and Phase Transformations in the Earth's Interior

Series: International Geophysics

Hardcover: 674 pages

Publisher: Academic Press; 1 edition (October 11, 2000)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0126851859

ISBN-13: 978-0126851854

Book Description

A group of distinguished scientists contributesto the foundations of a new discipline in Earth sciences: earthquakethermodynamics and thermodynamics of formation of the Earth's interiorstructures. The predictive powers of thermodynamics are so great that thoseaspiring to model earthquake and the Earth's interior will certainly wish to beable to use the theory. Thermodynamics is our only method of understanding andpredicting the behavior of many environmental, atmospheric, and geologicalprocesses. The need for Earth scientists to develop a functional knowledge ofthermodynamic concepts and methodology is therefore urgent. Sources of anentropy increase the dissipative and self-organizing systems driving theevolution and dynamics of the Universe and Earth through irreversibleprocesses. The non-linear interactions lead to the formation of fractalstructures. From the structural phase transformations the important interiorboundaries emerge.

Non-linear interactions between the defects insolids lead the authors to develop the physics of continua with a densedistribution of defects. Disclinations and dislocations interact during a slowevolution as well as during r*挨批唉*d dynamic events, like earthquakes. Splittingthe dynamic processes into the 2D fault done and 3D surrounding space brings anew tool for describing the slip nucleation and propagation along theearthquake faults. Seismic efficiency, rupture velocity, and complexity ofseismic source zone are considered from different points of view, fracture bandearthquake model is developed on the basis of thermodynamics of line defects,like dislocations. Earthquake thermodynamics offers us a microscopic model ofearthquake sources.

Physics of defects helps the authors decscribeand explain a number of precursory phenomena caused by the buildup of stresses.Anomalies in electric polarization and electromagnetic radiation prior toearthquakes are considered from this point of view. Through the thermodynamicapproach, the authors arrive at the fascinating question of posssibility ofearthquake prediction. In general, the Earth is considered here as amulticomponent system. Transport phenomena as well as wave propagation andshock waves are considered in this system subjected also to chemical and phasetransformations.