Transcript Theory of Plate Tectonics

Theory of Plate Tectonics
Power of Plate Motion
Chilean Earthquake
Chile Quake Poses Possible Hawaii
Tsunami Threat
Major Earthquake in Hati 2010
A New Theory
Sea-floor spreading supported
Wegener’s Continental Drift
How do we explain Sea-floor spreading
and Continental Drift?
Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics
Theory that the Earth’s lithosphere is
divided into tectonic plates that move
on top of the asthenosphere
Plate movement
Convection
Hot material rises while cool material
sinks
Cool material is dense
The motion of sinking and rising
material drags the tectonic plate away
from mid-ocean ridge
Flash Presentation
Tectonic Plate Boundaries
Convergent
Divergent
Transform
Convergent Plate Boundaries
When two plates push into each other
Classification based on crust:
Continental/Continental
Continental/Oceanic
Oceanic/Oceanic
Subduction Zones
Region where the oceanic plate sinks
into the asthenosphere
Volcanic formations frequently occur
Formed at Convergent Boundary
Continental/oceanic
Oceanic/oceanic
Ocean Trenches
Divergent Plate Boundary
Two plate move away from each other
Where new oceanic lithosphere forms
Can form on land as well: rift valley
Example is mid-ocean ridge
Transform Plate Boundary
Two plates slide past each other
horizontally
San Andreas Fault is example