Our Restless Earth
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Our Restless Earth. Plate Tectonics. Continental Drift Theory…. Alfred Wegener , 1912 Pangaea Super continent that contained all the land mass in the world 180 million years ago Pangaea broke up and slowly drifted apart. Evidence for Continental Drift.
Our Restless Earth
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Our Restless Earth Plate Tectonics
Continental Drift Theory… • Alfred Wegener, 1912 • Pangaea • Super continent that contained all the land mass in the world • 180 million years ago Pangaea broke up and slowly drifted apart
Evidence for Continental Drift... • Jigsaw puzzle fit of South America and Africa • Similar fossils found on east coast of South America and west coast of Africa • Glacial deposits found near equator
What is Plate Tectonics? A Theory that explained continental drift • Earth is made up of about 20 rigid plates (12 major - 8 minor) • As the plates shift around, land masses move in relation to each other
Why do Plates Move? • Theory: • The solid plates (lithosphere) float on the molten rock of the asthenosphere • Convection currents from deep inside the earth circulate the molten rock (magma) • The plates are dragged and pushed along with the magma
What is a Plate Boundary? A PLATE BOUNDARY IS The region where TWO TECTONIC plates meet
What are the Types of Plate Boundaries? • Spreading Boundaries(YELLOW) : (Diverging Boundaries) • Where 2 plates move apart • Colliding Boundaries(RED) : (Converging Boundaries) • Where 2 plates bump into each other • Transform Boundaries(PINK) : (Strike-Slip Fault Boundaries) • Where 2 plates rub against eachother
What Events Occur at Plate Boundaries? • Spreading (Diverging) Boundaries • Sea Floor Spreading - Volcanic activity here produces: • New crust material • Mid-Ocean Ridges consisting of: • Ridges (mountains) • Rifts (valleys)
Colliding (Converging) Boundaries • Subduction - • Heavier oceanic crust is pushed below lighter continental crust • The result : • Deep ocean trenches • Volcanic mountain ranges • Buckling - • Lighter crust is crumpled or folded • Produces mountain ranges
Transform Boundaries(Strike-Slip Fault Boundaries) • Result in faults or cracks in the earth’s crust • Earthquakes are likely to be found here