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Plate Tectonics

            
             Plate Tectonics is a theory proposed and accepted by scientists to explain the nature of earth's surface characteristics and oceanic and continental makeup. Plate Tectonics divides the earth's surface into separate sections known as lithospheric plates. These lithospheric plates are composed of the hard rigid outer crust of the earth which "float" on top of the hot more pliable asthenospheric layer. The heating of the asthenospheric layer by the lower mantle results in density changes causing a current type rotational motion which in turn drags the above plates. This motion and the floating attribute of the lithospheric plates gives rise to the earth's changing surface and oceanic floor features. The behavior of the plates at their intersecting boundaries yields distinct geographical features dependent upon their composition and direction of movement. Divergent, convergent, and transverse are the three main labels associated with plate interactions at their boundaries. Divergent action results when plates are being pulled away from one another forming rifts and splitting open surfaces. Convergent movement results when plates collide and push together resulting in buckling and overall shortening. Transform boundaries result when two plates slide alongside each other creating fault lines but not actually increasing or decreasing overall crust material. Divergent and Convergent boundaries produce distinctive characteristics based upon the composition of the interacting plates. .
             The Ring of Fire describes a geographical area of intense volcanic and seismic activity and oceanic trenches outlining the Pacific Basin. Seventy-five percent of the world's active and dormant volcanoes can be found in this arc stretching from New Zealand thru the eastern seaboard of Asia north to the Aleutian Islands and south following the coast of North and South America. This geological phenomenon was recognized long before it could be explained by the science of plate tectonics.


Essays Related to Plate Tectonics

1. From Theory To Science: The Evolution Of Tectonics

... the continents are in motion. Throughout the years there have been various theories of the earth's crustal dynamics, which have come to be known as the science of Tectonics or more commonly plate tectonics to try and explain the interaction occurring between the asthenosphere and lithosphere. These theories included, ideas about the developments of the ocean floor, movement of the Earth's ... the idea of Continental Drift, his theory was scrutinized throughout the science world, but ironically Wegener's theories for "Continental Drift- would become the basis for the science of Tectonics. ...

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  • Grade Level: High School

2. Geology plate techtonics

... Ron Cowen, was about how the magnetic map revealed ancient activity on Mars. At first the scientists first anticipated the movement in 1912, but wasn't established until the late 1960's. Plate tectonics are the theory that explains the tectonic behavior of the crust of the Earth in terms of several moving plates that are formed by volcanic activity at oceanic ridges and ... of water on early Mars." The movement of plates pushed up rock from depths o Mars and brought it back down again, therefore could have transported both water and carbon dioxide. Plate tectonics would have added suppo...

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3. Plate Tectonics

... commonly on the ocean floor, and then pushes the continents aside. In 1965, the two theories of continental drift and seafloor spreading were combined to produce the concept of plate tectonics. The theory of plate tectonics says that Earth's outer layer is comprised of several lithospheric plates floating around on the athenosphere. When these plates are heated, the athenosphere expands and begins to rise ... the ocean floor and the continents they suggested the idea that new seafloor develops at mid-ocean ridges and then spreads outward. This idea is seen in divergent plate boundaries. ...

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  • Grade Level: High School

4. Plate Tectonics

... that states that the outside layer of Earth are actually large plates, approximately forty kilometers thick, that slide across the magma beneath the exterior of the planet. The theory of plate tectonics explains the enormous amount of volcanic and seismic activity surrounding certain areas of the world, stating that the sliding of these plates either away from each other, sliding past each ... the subduction zone. The subduction zone is the seismically and volcanically active area nearby a tectonic plate that is submerging below another tectonic plate. The subduction zone supports the t...

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5. Plate Tectonics - I Feel the Earth Move

... 1970s, scientists made many important discoveries about the oceans crust, such as paleomagnetism as scientists studied the earth's magnetic fields. The next theory about why the continents moved was the plate tectonics theory. This theory talked about earth's lithosphere being divided into a number of crustal plates that move independently and collide, slide past, slide under, or slide over with adjacent plates. There ... are many problems caused by plate tectonics: earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes. Earthquakes are caused by two of the plates sliding past each other, causing the ear...

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  • Grade Level: High School

6. plate tectonicc

Plate Tectonics In the beginning the earth was not as it is today. It was one continent called Pangaea. Over the years the continents drifted apart, hence the continental drift theory. The reason why the continents started to drift apart was because of the plates that the continents are lying...

  • Word Count: 346
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  • Grade Level: High School

7. PLATETECTONICS

... on. However, after his death, new evidence from ocean floor exploration and other studies rekindled interest in Wegener's theory, ultimately leading to the development of the theory of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics has proven to be as important to the earth sciences as the discovery of the structure of the atom was to physics and chemistry and the theory of evolution was ... in the 1950s, a wealth of new evidence emerged to revive the debate about Wegener's provocative ideas and their implications. In particular, four major scientific developments spurred the formulation of the plate-...

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  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

8. The Origins of Volcanic Hotspots

... the main process that produces volcanoes, at subduction, convergent, and divergent zones. Yet, we see volcanic activity without the plate tectonics. "Hotspots" are found around the world. Many people who hear of the term hotspots, think of volcanoes ... neither rises nor trenches seem capable of driving the plates (Morgan 1971). Further research proves that not all "hotspots" are related to plate tectonics. Possible Origins Donald DePaolo and Micheal 2003 Manga discuss that not all volcanoes on Earth are located at mid-ocean ridges or subduction zones. ... has remained mostly stationary...

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9. Theories of Continental Drift

... , but in the 60's evidence was linked to it, bringing it to the public's eye once more. Continental drift is closely related to the idea of plate tectonics, and one is rarely mentioned without the other. Plate tectonics states that the Earth is divided into many plates that move at large scales, this being the basis for continental drift, encompassed the latter theorem and ... upwelling at mid-ocean ridges. This theory simply means that all rocks are aligned to the Earth's magnetic field, and this field changes every few thousand years. How this supports plate tectonics is slightly more ...

  • Word Count: 1234
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography

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