SUBDUCTION TOP TO BOTTOM (ST2B-2) CONCEPT AND ONLINE, GSA GEOSPHERE PUBLICATION VENUE

INTRODUCTION: In 1991, a GSA-sponsored field trip to Catalina Island, CA, was co-organized by Gray Bebout to enable GSA members to study outcrops of the high P/T accretionary complex of the Catalina Schist. During the field trip, we, Gray (Lehigh), conducting research on accretionary complexes, and Dave (USGS), modern subduction zones (SZs), recognized that significant advances in understanding the larger scale workings of SZs and the complexity of their processes and products required cross-disciplinary approaches. To promulgate this view, we agreed to convene a multi-disciplinary gathering of the then relatively small number of colleagues involved in offshore, onshore, and laboratory studies of modern and ancient SZs.

SUBCON CONFERENCE AND PUBLICATION: The general idea of the conference was discussed with colleague Steve Kirby (USGS) who, to conceptually include the mantle, christened the concept as “Subduction Top to Bottom” (ST2B). Through his efforts funding for travel, lodging, meals, and meeting venue was largely provided by the USGS, but with NSF (JOI USSAC) support too. The envisioned conference (SUBCON) was convened on Catalina Island, June 12-17, 1994, specifically to enable an all-conference field trip to exposures of the Late Cretaceous Catalina Schist. A collection of papers resulting from SUBCON was published in 1996 as AGU Geophysical Monograph v.96--known to many as “Big Purple”.

ST2B-2 PUBLICATION CONCEPT: In 2014, 20 years of research gains later, it was decided that a new, multi-thematic SZ conference and publication would serve a useful focusing of SZ science. In Recognition of the huge expansion of colleagues now engaged in SZ research and the science strides made, it was decided to convene a “virtual” conference by taking advantage of the publication speed, open-access availability, and ms-enhancing attributes of online E-publications. GSA’s Geosphere was selected as the venue of choice. Although open to all contributors, to best achieve a Top-to-Bottom thematic balance, an editorial board of subject specialists was assembled to solicit contributions in their field of expertise. Ms submission window will remain open through 2018 and published research and review papers will be placed at their appropriate SZ depth. (https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/geosphere/pages/st2b2).