1 / 14

The Theory of Plate Tectonics

The Theory of Plate Tectonics. Tectonic Plates are pieces of lithosphere that move around on the Athenosphere. Plates range in size. Some plates contain both continental and oceanic crust. Plates link like a puzzle. Tectonic Plates. A Plate Boundary is the place where two plates meet.

ulema
Télécharger la présentation

The Theory of Plate Tectonics

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. The Theory of Plate Tectonics

  2. Tectonic Plates are pieces of lithosphere that move around on the Athenosphere. Plates range in size. Some plates contain both continental and oceanic crust. Plates link like a puzzle. Tectonic Plates

  3. A Plate Boundary is the place where two plates meet. There are 3 types of boundaries. Convergent Divergent Transform Tectonic Plate Boundaries

  4. At Convergent boundaries two plates collide. Three results may happen from the collision. The type of plates that collide will determine one of three geographic features. Convergent Plate Boundaries

  5. Convergent Plate Boundaries • If two continental plates collide, a high mountain range may form. • The mountain may take many of years to form.

  6. Convergent Plate Boundaries • When a plate of oceanic lithosphere collides with a plate of continental lithosphere, the denser oceanic lithosphere sinks, or subducts beneath the less dense continental crust. • This process is called subduction. • Subduction may cause a chain of volcanoes to form parallel to the fault.

  7. When two oceanic plates collide, the denser of the two will submerge. A series of volcanic islands called island arc may form parallel to the fault.

  8. Where two tectonic plates separate. Some appear on land. Most appear on sea floor. As plates spread, magma rises to the ocean floor. The magma cools and forms new lithosphere. Divergent Plate Boundaries

  9. Transform Plate Boundaries • Two tectonic plates slide past each other. • Most transform boundaries occur in the sea floor at mid-ocean ridges. • San Andreas Fault in California occurs both on land and in the ocean.

  10. San Andreas Fault

  11. Heat is transferred from the Earth’s core through convection. When rock is heated, it becomes less dense and moves towards the surface. At the surface, cooler dense rock tends to sink thru subduction. Convection currents are formed all over the mantle, causing plates to move. Causes of Tectonic Plate Motion

  12. Tracking Tectonic Plate Motion • Plates move so slow that they are measured in centimeters per year. • Scientists use GPS and satellites to measure exact distances. • Scientists use sea floor spreading to measure ocean plates.

More Related