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The question of plumes versus plates is not just a wrangle among scientific geeks. This problem is a linchpin in understanding the gross structure of the mantle, its thermal and chemical development, and the history of Earth itself. The thesis of Plates, Plumes, and Paradigms is that in our twin quests to explain Earth's surface geologic details and to explore its deep geophysical framework, plumes now obscure more than they enlighten.
Skillful work by P3's four editors (Anderson, Natland, Gillian Foulger and Dean Presnall) has ensured a polemic edge and clarity of expression throughout the book. The articles are unusually clear for nonspecialist readers, a valuable feature because deep-Earth studies are cross-disciplinary projects. The production is first-rate, with good paper and deft use of color. And the copious reference lists are a ready road into the literature, some of it long overlooked. Although much of this material is presented in scattered or preliminary form on the remarkable mantleplumes.org Web site, there is no substitute for the book format in putting it all together in the detail and rigor readers need for full understanding.
Plates, Plumes, and Paradigms is a major milestone in planetary science. For graduate students and professionals with a deep interest in plate tectonics, it is instantly essential. For other readers—undergraduates, analysts, and rare members of the lay public—mastering it will be a long-term undertaking. But Earth will abide, and P3 will be seminal and relevant for many years to come.
