Book review g r foulger plates vs plumes a geological controversy wiley blackwell 2010 paperback 364 pages isbn 978 1 4051 6148 0 szabolcs harangi. Plates vs plumes a geological controversy gillian r foulger since the advent of the mantle plume hypothesis in 1971 scientists have been faced with the problem that its predictions are not confirmed by observation. Main plates vs plumes plates vs plumes gillian r foulgerauth since the advent of the mantle plume hypothesis in 1971 scientists have been faced with the problem that its predictions are not confirmed by observation for thirty years the usual reaction has been to adapt the hypothesis in numerous ways as a result the multitude of current plume variants now amounts to an unfalsifiable . Gillian foulger is professor of geophysics at the university of durham where she has worked since 1985 on earthquake seismology and plate tectonics she lived and researched in iceland for seven years where she acquired a mistrust of theories that do not fit practical observations without contortion she manages the world famous website wwwmantleplumesorg and is widely acclaimed for leading . Plates vs plumes a geological controversy gillian r foulger a john wiley sons ltd publication