Plate Tectonics Essay

shifting of plates along tectonic boundaries. Movement of tectonic plates releases stored energy producing seismic waves, which travel through the solid rock of the upper layers of the earth’s crust. Earthquakes occur along belts, circum-Pacific or Alpine, located near the edges of tectonic plates. Energy released by the interaction between two plates can produce severe damage to the surrounding environment. Earthquakes occur along tectonic plate boundaries and fault lines. Movement of tectonic plates

Now, lets take a quick look back at that question. Why do the continents look the way they do? Well, the short answer is basically plate tectonics. What is that you say? Plate tectonics is a theory that describes the formation, movements, and interactions of the Earth's lithosphere with its' asthenosphere. The lithospheric layer of Earth's crust is broken into plates that move on the asthenosphere, the layer located under. This theory is what basically explains how continents, volcanoes, and mountains

trends allowed me to actually learn from our own Earth. The most active area of our plate tectonics was subduction zones. This type of plate boundary was the reason for the majority of the earthquakes documented over the semester. Most of these earthquakes were shallow, but at times had very deep focal points. Because of the old, cold plate being sub ducted I saw significantly more deep focus earthquakes in this tectonic setting. Subduction zones were also responsible for the deepest earthquakes that

The Theory of Plate Tectonics. The Theory of Plate Tectonics states that the lithosphere is divided into dozens of plates float on the asthenosphere and the plates move by convection currents. The theory was proposed in 1912 by Alfred Wegener, a German scientist. I will be discussing the evidence on the theory how we are able to better understand it, along with how we are able to prove his theory more accurate with modern technology. I will also be discussing how natural things such as, mountains

The chapter presents different theoretical aspects on Plate Tectonics, which help understand how Earth is built and its internal functioning mechanisms. Central to this theory is the fact that Earth's surface is made up of several large tectonic plates and a few smaller ones, which can be either continental or oceanic, and do not necessarily have the same boundaries as the continents or oceans. These plates shift over long periods of time, movements caused by a force resulted from the planet's internal

How do plate tectonics and ocean currents influence climate change? The tectonic plates are all over the earth’s surface. Over the years, these plates and their characteristics have become common knowledge. These plates move around 3cm at least every year and they move in different directions due to the convection currents of molten magma that flows beneath them. [Raunekk 2010] A convention current definition is “a current in that a fluid is that a results from convection.” [Earth’s dynamic] Then

landforms fundamental to our understanding of plate tectonics theory? (40) Plate tectonics theory is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of the Earth’s lithosphere, which is broken up into tectonic plates. Volcanic landforms are undoubtedly very important in aiding our understanding of plate tectonic theory. However, there is other evidence that must be considered as well. Different types of volcanoes are created at plate margins due to the viscosity of the lava. The

THE CARIBBEAN PLATE Evolution and Origin Ronald Gobin B00673944 Erth 4350 Professor: Nicholas Culshaw December 6th 2016 Introduction The following report will introduce the topic of the Caribbean plate and its evolution, origin and the active physical process within tectonic environments. The Pacific model will be discussed in this paper, and assumes the formation of the Caribbean plate at the Galapagos hotspot in the Pacific Ocean during the Middle Cretaceous. Regional Setting

The theory of plate tectonics was first developed by Alfred Wegener. He concluded that the continents seem to have a similar shape and could potentially fit together. This suggested that they were at one time joined together as part of 2 super continents called Gondwanaland and Laurasia was in the north. This theory was said to be proven by the discovery of fossilised remains of a mesosaurus that were found on the coasts of Brazil and Gabon. Sea floor spreading is another theory that supports the

i. Abstract Numerous extinct spreading centres are found within the world’s ocean basins and these record instances of spreading cessation or migration that provide valuable insights into the mechanism of heat-loss from the mantle and plate tectonic behaviour. This study presents the first comprehensive review of all reported extinct ridges and investigates their characteristics and regional distribution and frequency of occurrence over the last ~170 Myr as recorded in present-day preserved oceanic