Errata for Chapter Three of Exploring the World Ocean by Chamberlin and Dickey

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page 37: Rewrite "melting of the underthrust plate." This is not current thinking on the source of melt for volcanic arcs. In fact, the current model favors sinking of the underthrust plate under the asthenosphere and subsequent dewatering of the underthrust plate which lowers the melting temperature of the mantle materials (a wedge of the asthenosphere above the underthrust plate). Partial melting of the mantle material generates magma which rises and heats and melts the overlying continenta crust. Emplaced plutons or volcanoes may result. In some cases, where the underthurst plate is "young" and subducted at a shallow angle, the oceanic crust may be heated and melted directly by the overlying mantle. In any case, direct melting of the underthrust plate is incorrect. The interested reader may want to consult the 12th edition of Plummer and Carlson (2008), Physical Geology (McGraw-Hill), pages 76-78, and especially Figure 3.26-3.28. Thanks to Barbara Munn, Sacramento State, for pointing out this error!

If you find other errors or statements that could use greater clarification, please e-mail Sean Chamberlin, schamberlin@fullcoll.edu. Thanks!

Figures

Figures 3-9 and 3-10: Correct captions and delete "melting of the underthrust plate." See more details in correction for page 37 above.

Figure 3-12: Remove arrows on inactive fracture zones. Mendocino fracture zone should have arrow on north side moving away from the Gorda Ridge; other arrow should be removed. Note that this figure is based on a USGS figure (http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/understanding.html) which also (erroneously) shows crustal movements on inactive fracture zones. Click here for revised figure.

Comments on ways to improve figures? Please e-mail Sean Chamberlin, schamberlin@fullcoll.edu.