Crustal Channel Flow Kinematics and Examples

Since the landmark paper by the Dalhousie University research group (2001, Nature) on coupled thermal–mechanical channel flow extrusion of the Higher Himalaya, there has been an intense debate on the validity and modifications of this extrusion mechanism. To understand this important ductile deformation process, one needs to grasp its fluid mechanical foundation. However, for the sake of brevity, research papers present key equations and not their detail derivations. To fill the gap, this book starts with basic fluid mechanics of channel flow, and explains their ‘working principles’ by solving a number of problems. It also summarizes our current understanding of the mountain building processes related to channel flow. The book uses an easy language to help non-specialists and undergraduate students. It will be an ideal book for those geoscientists with little mathematical background, who need to deal with this deformation mechanism in their research work.