This book gives an historical perspective of Plate Tectonics. Furthermore, it discusses the foundations of rigid plate tectonics and the limitations of this approach. This classic approach can explain the data to a level of 95 % precision. Some anomalies subsit which must be explained by a more general model. The authors refer to these anomalies: for example discrepancies between spatial geodetical data and rigid kinematics in oceans or rheology significance of fractal dimensions in seismicity and faulting, etc. In this unique book the reader has access to data as well as to interpretations from a broad spectrum of disciplines. Great emphasis is placed on the limitations of the rigid plate tectonics theory of the earth.

This book presents a historical perspective on plate tectonics. In doing so it discusses the foundations of rigid plate tectonics and the limitations of this approach. This classic approach explains the data at a level of 95 % precision. The authors explain data anomalies as a result of the discrepancies between spatial geodetical data and rigid kinematics in oceans. Data and its interpretation from various disciplines are pulled together in this book.