从地槽—地台说、板块构造说到地球系统多圈层构造观

From Geosyncline—Platform Theory,Plate Tectonics to the Multisphere Tectonic View of Earth System

从19世纪中叶开始,大地构造理论经历了从地槽—地台说到板块构造说的发展过程。目前,板块构造说虽然仍在盛行,但一个新的大地构造理论——地球系统多圈层构造观(简称多圈层构造观)已在形成中。地槽—地台说,19世纪中叶提出,盛行于20世纪上半叶,是地质学家从理论上研究地壳构造及其演化的开始。地槽—地台说使用的方法是传统的地质学方法;研究领域是大陆地壳,褶皱带(造山带)和克拉通是其研究的核心内容。地槽—地台说大大推动了地质科学的发展,并为地球科学的进一步发展,奠定了良好的基础。板块构造说,起始于20世纪60年代。板块构造使用的方法,除地质学外,加上了地球物理学和地球化学等现代科学和技术手段;研究领域是全球大陆和海洋的岩石圈。板块构造说使大地构造学的研究范围从地球表层扩展到地球内部,从大陆扩展到海洋,极大地推动了地球科学向更高的层次发展。目前,板块构造说虽然仍在盛行,但是不足和缺陷已日益显露出来。地球系统多圈层构造观,孕育于20世纪80年代晚期,目前正在发展中。地球系统多圈层构造观使用的方法更现代化,包括地质学、地球物理学、地球化学以及一切探测地球深部和外层空间的方法、手段;研究领域,已不仅仅是地球表层的地壳或岩石圈,而是地球整体,地球各圈层的相互作用。我们相信,21世纪必将是地球系统多圈层构造观不断发展、不断完善的时代。中国及邻区中、新生代构造演化是全球研究多圈层构造的最理想的切入点之一。我们期待中国地学工作者在新一轮大地构造理论创新中发挥应有的作用。

Since the middle of the 19th century, there have been two major theoretical innovations in tectonics： the theories of geosyncline--platform and plate tectonics. Although the theory of plate tectonics is still popular at present, a new geotectonic concept the muhisphere tectonic view of the Earth system （multisphere tectonic view for short） is already in shape. The geosyncline--platform theory was originated in the mid-19th century and prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, which should be the beginning of theoretical study on crustal structure and evolution by geologists. The research methods are those used in the traditional geology. The research object is the continental crust, with the fold belt （ orogenic belt） and craton being the core of investigations. The geosyncline--platform concept greatly contributed to the advances of the geological science and laid a good foundation for the further development of the Earth sciences. Plate tectonics was firstly developed in the 1960s. In addition to geological methods, geophysical and geochemical and other modern scientific and technological means have been adopted during the study of geological processes. The research object is the global continental and oceanic lithosphere. This theory made the study of tectonics being extended from the surface to the interior of the Earth and from the continent to the ocean, which has brought the Earth sciences to a higher level. Although the theory of plate tectonics is still prevalent at present, its shortcomings and defects have been becoming apparent. The muhisphere tectonic view of the Earth system was conceived in the late 1980s and is now developing. Its research is in various ways, including a combination of geology with geophysics, geochemistry, and deep and outer space exploration. The research object is not only the crust of the Earth＇ s outer layer or lithosphere, but the whole of the Earth and its multisphere interaction, We believe that the 21st century is the era when the muhisphere tectonic view will be developed and improved ceaselessly. The Meso--Cenozoic tectonic evolution of China and its adjacent areas is one of the optical starting points in the study of muhisphere tectonics in the world, We expect Chinese geoscientists to play their due role in the new round of tectonic theory innovation.