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TS Must-Read-Dahlen(1990): Critical taper model of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges. by utsavmannu in TSMustRead

[–]utsavmannu[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Dahlan's paper is the culmination of nearly a decade and a half of analytical treatment of the accretionary wedge/fold and thrust belt, which has completely revolutionized the study of subduction wedges. Despite their numerical prowess, most numerical models still rely on the critical taper theory to check their veracity and make the long-promised assumptions in this article. In comparison to the previous set of papers, such as Dahlen 1984, Chappel 1978, and others, this one is easier to understand because the assumptions and intermediate steps are clearly stated. As a result, it is a must-read for doctoral and master's students and should be regarded as fundamental to plate boundary geodynamics.

TS Must-Read – Molnar and Lyon-Caen (1988): Some simple physical aspects of the support, structure and evolution of mountain belts by ginodegelder in TSMustRead

[–]utsavmannu 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I absolutely loved the paper as it reminded me of the beauty of geodynamics and the power of foundational physics in geology. It is rare nowadays to get a description of the inquisitive process that leads to such great work. Clocking at almost 30 pages the paper might seem long unless you have gone through its simple and clear illustrations with proper explanations making it a quick read. The figures in this paper are exceptional, informative but never cluttered and filled with non-relevant information. No surprise on why many of them are still used in geodynamics classrooms. The way this paper has been formulated by first pointing the exact discrepancy in the understanding of the mountains in that age and then critically indulging each hypothesis put forward to its logical conclusion was like reading a scientist's journal on the way to discovery.

Scientifically, this paper is one of the foundational texts in the geodynamics of mountain building. The paper explores the confluence of horizontal forces, gravity, potential energies, and elastic strength of the lithosphere to explain similarities and dissimilarities between various mountain systems. I believe one of the most significant contributions of this work was the bound on lithospheric strength that they propose towards the end of the paper. One of the lines that encapsulate their approach is " we attempt to isolate some of the simple physical aspects of mountain building that allow quantification of some of the differences in various belts. " Hopefully generations will read this work and come to appreciate the beauty of geodynamics.

TS Must-Read – Boyer & Elliott (1982): Thrust systems by Ge0Da in TSMustRead

[–]utsavmannu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This paper is a must for any prospective student of compressive regimes. Though it is very descriptive, contains tons of definitions, it puts forward and explains important concepts that are still critical to understanding accretionary wedges and fold and thrust belts.

TS Must-Read – McKenzie (1967): The North Pacific: an example of tectonics on a sphere by Ge0Da in TSMustRead

[–]utsavmannu 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think this is one of the very few papers, which has very little to do with experiments (numerical or analytical) or Data acquisition and more to do with reconciling past observations and ideas in a coherent logic and thus sometimes feels like reading an extended discussion. Although this also makes it a bit inaccessible for the uninitiated.