The Galapagos

A Natural Laboratory for the Earth Sciences

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• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781118852569
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Geology & Earth Sciences

The Galápagos Islands are renown for their unique flora and fauna, inspiring Charles Darwin in the elaboration of his theory of evolution. Yet in his Voyage of the Beagle, published in 1839, Darwin also remarked on the fascinating geology and volcanic origin of these enchanted Islands. Since then, the Galápagos continue to provide scientists with inspiration and invaluable information about ocean island formation and evolution, mantle plumes, and the deep Earth.

Motivated by an interdisciplinary Chapman Conference held in the Islands, this AGU volume provides cross-disciplinary collection of recent research into the origin and nature of ocean islands, from their deepest roots in Earth's mantle, to volcanism, surface processes, and the interface between geology and biodiversity.

Volume highlights include:

• Case studies in biogeographical, hydrological, and chronological perspective
• Understanding the connection between geological processes and biodiversity
• Synthesis of decades of interdisciplinary research in physical processes from surface to deep interior of the earth
• In-depth discussion of the concept of the island acting as a natural laboratory for earth scientists
• Integrated understanding of the Galápagos region from a geological perspective

Collectively, The Galápagos presents case studies illustrating the Galápagos Archipelago as a dynamic natural laboratory for the earth sciences. This book would be of special interest to a multidisciplinary audience in earth sciences, including petrologists, volcanologists, geochronologists, geochemists, and geobiologists.

Table of contents

• Geophysical Monograph Series
• Copyright
• Contents
• Contributors
• Foreword: Darwin’s Perspective
• Foreword: The Galápagos as a Natural Laboratory
• Acknowledgments
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Contrasting Volcanism in Hawai’i and the Galápagos
• Chapter 3 Galápagos and Easter: A Tale of Two Hotspots
• Chapter 4 Eruption Rates for Fernandina Volcano: A New Chronology at the Galápagos Hotspot Center
• Chapter 5 Galápagos Magma Chambers
• Chapter 6 The Geology and Geochemistry of Isla Floreana, Galápagos: A Different Type of Late-Stage Ocean Island Volcanism
• Chapter 7 Plate Tectonics, Evolution, and the Survival of Species: A Modern Day Hotspot
• Chapter 8 A Paleogeographic Model of the Galápagos Islands and Biogeographical and Evolutionary Implications
• Chapter 9 Hydrogeology of the Galápagos Archipelago: An Integrated and Comparative Approach Between Islands
• Chapter 10 Controls on the Hydrological and Topographic Evolution of Shield Volcanoes and Volcanic Ocean Islands
• Chapter 11 Climate and the Global Reach of the Galápagos Archipelago: State of the Knowledge
• Chapter 12 Assessment of the Chile 2010 and Japan 2011 Tsunami Events in the Galápagos Islands
• Chapter 13 Patterns in Galápagos Magmatism Arising from the Upper Mantle Dynamics of Plume-Ridge Interaction
• Chapter 14 Variations in Crustal Thickness, Plate Rigidity, and Volcanic Processes Throughout the Northern Galápagos Volcanic Province
• Chapter 15 Plume-Ridge Interaction in the Galápagos: Perspectives from Wolf, Darwin, and Genovesa Islands
• Chapter 16 A Preliminary Survey of the Northeast Seamounts, Galápagos Platform
• Chapter 17 Effect of Variations in Magma Supply on the Crustal Structure of Mid-Ocean Ridges: Insights from the Western Galápagos Spreading Center
• Chapter 18 Helium Isotope Variations and Mantle Plume-Spreading Ridge Interactions Along the Galápagos Spreading Center
• Index
• End User License Agreement