Publisher's Synopsis
Tectonic stress in the Earth's lithosphere not only reflects the forces acting on the litospheric plates, some of which are responsible for plate motion, but also controls the location and magnitudes of natural phenomena which have a substantial impact on humankind's activities and well-being. This book covers observational techniques, whereby stress can be directly measured or inferred, as well as a variety of theoretical approaches which help to explain or predict observations. Contributors were asked by the organizers of the Discussion Meeting, held in April 1991 to write articles which review their chosen field; thus it is intended that this volume will be of use to those with a general interest in lithospheric stress as well as to specialists in the subject.;Lithospheric stress is discussed at a variety of scales. At the largest scale are the forces acting on whole plates and at their edges and the global balance of these forces. At least 7 different forces have been identified which either drive the individual plates or resist their motion. The ridge-push force has a particularly important effect on intraplate tectonic stress, especially beneath oceanic areas. Special problems arise in explaining stress at transform plate boundaries and in some major mountain ranges. On the other hand observations at the Earth's surface, in boreholes or at greater depths (from earthquake focal mechanisms) detect the resultant of these numerous forces and their interpretation and resolution into component parts is also discussed in several papers.
