Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Temperature Changes associated with Adiabatic Decompression in Geological Processes

Nature volume 232, pages 545–547 (1971)Cite this article

Abstract

Joule-Thomson coefficients of crystals indicate that temperatures may increase during irreversible adiabatic release of pressure. Isenthalpic decompression provides a mechanism for “self-heating” in igneous and metamorphic processes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Joule, J. P., and Thomson, W., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 144, 321 (1854).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Adams, L. H., J. Geol., 32, 191 (1924); Barton, jun., P. B., and Toulmin, P., US Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 424D, D-350 (1961).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Pippard, A. B., The Elements of Classical Thermodynamics, (Cambridge University Press, 1957).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  4. Kelley, K. K., US Bureau Mines Bull., 584 (1960); Skinner, B. J., Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem., 97, 75 (1966); Robie, R. A., and Waldbaum, D. R., US Geol. Survey Bull. 1259 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ringwood, A. E., Boyd, F. R., and Macgregor, I. D., Carnegie Inst. Wash. Yearbook, 63, 147 (1964).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yoder, H. S., and Tilley, C. E., J. Petrol., 3, 342 (1962).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Green, D. H., and Ringwood, A. E., Contr. Mineral. Petrol., 15, 162 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bridgman, P. W., Phys. Rev., 9, 138 (1917).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Adams, L. H., J. Wash. Acad. Sci., 12, 407 (1922).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Horai, K., and Uyeda, S., in The Earth's Crust and Upper Mantle (edit. by Hart, P. J.), Geophys. Monog. 13, 104 (Amer. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 1969); Morgan, W. J., Nature, 230, 42 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Bowen, N. L., The Evolution of the Igneous Rocks, 315 (Princeton University Press, 1928).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Turner, F. J., and Verhoogen, J., Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, second ed., 443 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1960).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Turcotte, D. L., and Oxburgh, E. R., J. Geophys. Res., 74, 1458 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Liepmann, H. W., and Roshko, A., Elements of Gasdynamics, 47 (Wiley, New York, 1957).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  15. Turner, F. J., Evolution of the Metamorphic Rocks, Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem. 30, 286 (1948); Ramsay, J. G., in The British Caledonides (edit. by Johnson, M. R. W., and Stewart, F. H.), 168 (Oliver and Boyd, London, 1963); Thompson, jun., J. B., Robinson, P., Clifford, T. N., and Trask, jun., N. J., in Studies of Appalachian Geology: Northern and Maritime (edit. by Zen, E., et al.), 215 (Wiley, New York, 1968); Thompson, jun., J. B., and Norton, S., ibid., 325; Spry, A., Metamorphic Textures, 253 (Pergamon, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Dewey, J. F., and Pankhurst, R. J., Roy. Soc. Edinburgh Trans., 68, 361 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shimazu, Y., J. Earth Sci. Nagoya Univ., 6, 31 (1958); Shimazu, Y., Jap. J. Geophys., 2, 135 (1961).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Reitan, P. H., Lithos, 1, 161 (1968); Reitan, P. H., Lithos, 1, 268 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Haller, J., Geol. Rundschau, 45, 159 (1956).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Niggli, E., Fortschr. Mineral., 47, 16 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wenk, E., Fortschr. Mineral., 47, 34 (1970).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Turner, F. J., Metamorphic Petrology: Mineralogical and Field Aspects, 377 (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Raleigh, C. B., in P. J. Wyllie, Ultramafic and Related Rocks, 191 (Wiley, New York, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dickey, J., Min. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper No. 3, 33 (1970).

  25. Carpenter, J. R., and Phyfer, D. W., Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstracts with Programs, 1, Pt. 7, 261 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ringwood, A. E., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 6470 (1970); Wood, J. A., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 6507 (1970); Smith, J. V., Anderson, A. T., Newton, R. C., Olsen, E. J., and Wyllie, P. J., J. Geol., 78, 395 (1970); Turcotte, D. L., and Oxburgh, E. R., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 6549 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Baldwin, R. B., The Face of the Moon (University of Chicago Press, 1949); Ronca, L. B., Icarus, 5, 515 (1966); Mackin, J. H., Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer., 80, 742 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Dietz, R. S., J. Geol., 72, 412 (1964); French, B. M., Bull. Vulcanol., 34, 466 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. French, B. M., and Short, N. M., Shock Metamorphism of Natura Materials, 43, 59, 219 (Mono Book Corp., Baltimore, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Milton, D. J., and De Carli, P. S., Science, 140, 670 (1963); Dobretsov, N. L., Deribas, A. A., and Maly, V. I., Phys. Earth Planet. Interiors, 3, 352 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Ahrens, T. J., Petersen, C. F., and Rosenberg, J. T., J. Geophys. Res., 74, 2727 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bridgman, P. W., Studies in Large Plastic Flow and Fracture, 174 (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1964); Pugh, H. Ll. D., and Low, A. H., J. Inst. Metals, 93, 203 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Princeton University,

    D. R. WALDBAUM

Authors
  1. D. R. WALDBAUM
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

WALDBAUM, D. Temperature Changes associated with Adiabatic Decompression in Geological Processes. Nature 232, 545–547 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/232545a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/232545a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing