The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. Earths crust and upper mantle are divided into plates. Plate tectonics simple english wikipedia, the free. The three types of plate movement are divergent, convergent and transform plate boundaries. The divergent midatlantic ridge rises above sea level in thingvellir national park, iceland, marked by the pink dot on the map, where the north american plate and the eurasian plate move in opposite directions. As you read each paragraph, take notes about the key ideas in the. Throughout earths history, the global ocean has been modified by plate tectonics. Closely spaced earthquakes with a range of depths that deepen i. What are the different types of plate tectonic boundaries. Plates move only if theyre pushed or pulled, not dragged. Tectonic plates and their distribution using the plate distribution map create a colour code and outline the different types of plate boundaries. What is the geological theory that states that pieces of earths lithosphere are in constant slow motion. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three.
Detailed map showing the tectonic plates with their movement. Again the root cause for the movement of the tectonic plates depends upon the convection current. This suggests that earth possesses a unique combination of heat budget probably a matter of size. Plate tectonics the tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. Plate tectonics reading, activity and infographics. Movement and direction of the pacific tectonic boundary. A transform plate boundary occurs when two plates slide past each other. The earth is the only planet known to currently have plate tectonics.
Longterm sea level change hundreds of thousands to millions of years is influenced by factors that modify the size and shape of ocean basins. Continental drift is the idea that continents passively move due to tectonic activity. Exactly how this works is still a matter of debate. Plate movement is driven by convection in earths mantle. Tectonic plates reading material grades 68 printable. In this activity, students learn to read and interpret map data to understand plate tectonics and make predictions. Convergence data are shown by arrows describing direction and speed, relative to the plate across the boundary. Plate tectonics is the surface manifestation of mantle convection, but the large contrast in viscosities between the lithosphere and the deeper mantle leads to departures from a simple boiling pot. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms. In the framework of plate tectonics, the surface is represented by rigid plates separated.
The theory of plate tectonics describes how the plates move, interact, and change the physical landscape. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly moving mesosphere tectonic plates it occurred after the breakup of pangaea, and since then the continents have drifted apart. This tectonic cycle has influenced the distribution of. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. If you are looking for engaging and fun resources about tectonic plates movement, here is a great bundle of ebook, activity and posters. I deleted the original version, which had 17,110 views, 4 comments, 81 thumbs ups. The ebook, provided as a pdf file, includes imagines and indepth explanations of the internal and external processes that shaped earths crust and the tectonic plates movements.
Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. Crust is continuously being regenerated and removed. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. Ice movements desert tropics glacial other paleoclimatic evidence includes deposits of coal, desert sandstone, rock salt, windblown sand, gypsum, and glacial deposits. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and revolutionized geology.
If the earths core provides the heat that drives plate tectonics, then what will eventually happen. Online shopping for plate tectonics from a great selection at books store. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. The lithosphere is divided into plates, some of which are very large and can be entire continents heat from the mantle is the source of energy driving plate tectonics. Takehome messages earths geology is dominated by the processes of plate tectonics. Notes on plate tectonics plate tectonics states that the earths crust and upper mantle are broken into sections, called plates. Compare and contrast divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries. Find tectonic plates stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. Tectonic plates plate boundary referenced from bird, peter 2003 an updated digital model of plate boundaries. Crust lithosphere plate movement the crust is broken into plates that move. Large pieces of the lithosphere that float on the asthenosphere are called. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics.
This skin is cracked, and each section moves over and under other sections. Divergent occurs when two tectonic plates move away from the other. Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. Global or eustatic sea level can change as the result of changes in the number, size, and shape of ocean basins. Explain why the term recycling is an excellent description of plate tectonics. The earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions.
Rock in the earth is still extremely hot and it can slowly circulate inside the earth through convection, the process of warm fluids rising and cooler fluids sinking. The earths lithosphere, which includes the crust and upper mantle, is made up of a series of pieces, or tectonic plates, that move slowly over time. Interaction of tectonic plates major geomorphological features such as fold and block mountains, midoceanic ridges, trenches, volcanism, earthquakes etc. Tectonic plates california institute of technology. The theory of plate tectonics combine which two other theories. I prepared for todays lesson by projecting and tracing the following document plate tectonics template on a large bulletin board paper. The nature and the severity of the earth quake will be decided by the movement of the tectonic plate. Tectonic plates or huge slabs of solid rocks separate, collide, and slide past each other causing earthquakes, feeding volcanic eruptions, and raising mountains. Describe the effects of plate tectonics found at each type of boundary. Pdf plate tectonics, our major paradigm for how the earth works, was established in the 1960ies following decades of observational research. Plate tectonics and sea level change coastal processes. Plate tectonics has proven to be so useful that it can predict geologic events and explain almost all aspects of what we see on the earth. Ocean basinsoceanic crust are continually being created and destroyed through tectonic processes. Heat generated from the radioactive decay of elements deep in the interior of the earth creates magma or molten rock in the aesthenosphere.
Plate tectonics information and facts national geographic. Lesson 1 the earth is cracking up lesson at a glance lesson 1 introduces the concept that the earth is not solid, and that the crust is like a thin skin fl oating on top of a hot, taffylike body of magma. Create a timeline of the events leading to the theory of plate tectonics. This slow movement of hot rock inside the earth is what powers the movement.
Most geophysicists opposed the hypothesis of plate tectonics in the early 1900s, even as late as the 1960s. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. As two adjacent plates move across the asthenosphere, they either collide, slide past another, or separate. Surface observations and seismic waves showed that the earths interior was solid. This is a revised version cleaning up the graphics and the scriptnarration. The global mosaic of plates periodically reorganizes itself and new plate boundaries form while others close up. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma molten. Geologists think that the movement of earths plates is caused by convection currents in the mantle. Beneath the crust is a hot ductile layer of the upper mantle called the figure 22. At divergent boundaries in the oceans, magma from deep in the earths mantle rises toward the surface and pushes apart two or more plates. I also organized a few teacher notes on plate tectonics to. There are three ways in which the plates interact with each other.
Compare and contrast divergent, convergent, and book f 43. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three major layers crust, mantle, core within the earth that are. A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Describe some of the events and pieces of evidence that led to the theory of plate tectonics.
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia plate tectonics from greek, tekton builder or mason describes the large. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface. Movement of tectonic plates is powered by convection. How do the movements of tectonic plates cause geological events. Plate convergence vectors referenced from united states geological survey. This scaffolded activity guides students to interpret a complex map of tectonic plates, make observations, construct explanations based on diagrams and make inferences about future pl.
If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. Use models to describe how tectonic plates cause major geological events such as. Mark in some important volcano and earthquake locations. Generally, the depth of an earthquake is related to the type of tectonic boundary in which it occurs. Mantle convection and plate tectonics our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere.
At plate boundaries, plates collide, move apart, move under or over each other, or slide past one another. If youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. The layer below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere. A global flood model of earth history 3 preflood geology any. Plate tectonics, the study of such relative motions.