DOREL ZUGRAVESCU, FLORIN MUNTEANU, CRISTIAN SUTEANU
Institutul de Geodinamica "Sabba S. Stefanescu" al Academiei Romane,
Bucuresti
GEODYNAMICS – AN EVOLVING CONCEPT
(Abstract)
Starting from a review of the main steps in the development of geodynamics
and from an analysis of definitions given to this domain in time, the paper
attempts to place the actual geodynamic approach in a general trend of its
evolution and to contribute to a better understanding of the implications of
its latest advancements. Today's approach considers new points of view made
possible by the complexity paradigm and the powerful instruments developed
on its basis (fractal physics, chaos theory) as well as the significant role
played by interdisciplinarity. In this context the paper advances a definition
of geodynamics, synthetically expressed as being "the science which is
concerned with the processes suffered by a planetary systems, highlighting
the interaction between their constitutive parts, at different space-time scales,
with special emphasis on the planet Earth".
Key words: geodynamics, global tectonics, whole Earth tectonics, complexity
science, fractals, chaos theory.