The Geological Society of America announces a new publication focusing on the sedimentary record in arc settings and arc collision zones, including their relationship to tectonic events, geomorphology, and climate feedback.

Senior editor Amy Draut of the U.S. Geological Survey notes that "sediment deposited in volcanic arc settings yields the best available record of active-margin evolution. The tectonic, erosional, and magmatic geochemical histories preserved in these zones are key to understanding multiple, interconnected geologic processes."

These processes include the formation and destruction of continental crust, changes in plate configuration and rates of plate motion, subduction zone deformation and associated seismogenesis and tsunami hazards, and links between tectonically driven rock uplift and climate.

According to Draut, "It is expected that the utility and applications of arc sedimentary records will expand considerably with upcoming research initiatives such as those of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program."

Such advances in analytical techniques will improve age controls on the tectonic evolution of active margins, and, says Draut, "it is hoped, offer greater insight into the links and feedback processes among collision-related uplift, precipitation, sediment flux to subduction zones, and seismic activity and its associated societal hazards."

Inspired by a 2005 GSA Penrose Conference (cosponsored by the International Association of Sedimentologists and the British Sedimentological Research Group), the 17 papers in this volume explore sedimentary environments in arc collision zones and their utility in recording the evolution of modern and ancient convergent margins.

The first set of papers focuses on the formation and evolution of the sedimentary record in arc settings and arc collision zones, concentrating on modern intra-oceanic examples.

The second half of the volume presents new applications of arc sedimentary records, primarily related to constraining tectonic events in the evolution of arc systems, but also concerning the links among tectonic uplift, collision, and geomorphic and climatic feedback mechanisms in arc collision zones.

Individual copies of the volume may be purchased through the Geological Society of America online bookstore.