Transcript Plate Tectonics PowerPoint

A Volcano
Plate Tectonics
PowerPoint
By: Daniel Luddeke
Earthquake
Damage
Section #1 History of Pangaea
• The theory of Pangaea was originated by Alfred Wegener who was a
German Scientist. He lived from 1880-1930 and was also an a
accomplished Astronomer and Meteorologist. During this time he
came up with a theory. The theory was called Pangaea or a super
continent. Pan” means all and “Gaea” means earth so all together it
means “all of the earth”. Pangaea occurred during the Carboniferous
period which happened about 3 million years ago. He originally came
up with this theory in 1912 but it was not accepted by other scientists.
It was not until 1950 (20 years after Wegener died) that they finally
began accepting it. His studies of meteorology and astronomy helped
with this discovery because they could see if space and gravity could
have played a role in the making of Pangaea and also if weather
contributed. During this period of time the contraction theory was
being discussed. The Contraction theory is where they said that the
sun could not be more than 20 million years old. It also said that the
suns energy was coming from gravitational contraction. P.M.S. Blackett
and S.K. Runcorn assisted in Wegener’s theory. They came from two
colleges and provided data that helped Wegener's theory and
convinced scientists to accept it.
Section 1 Pictures
These are 2 photos of Alfred Wegener. He was the German scientist
that came up with the theory of Pangaea or the super continent . He
was born in November 1880 and died November 1930.
This is a diagram of plates moving and splitting
apart through the ages
*An important fact to know:
Plates mean a giant land mass that is
constantly moving around and shifting.
Section 2 Convergent Boundaries
•
A convergent boundary is a boundary where 2
plates (oceanic or continental or both) collide
and cause a series of natural disasters. Some of
these disasters that can occur from this are
mostly volcanoes and earthquakes (and
tsunamis caused by the earthquakes).
Mountains and trenches can also occur for
because of this. Mudslides/landslides can also
happen at this type of boundary. One examples
of a convergent boundary is the Eurasian and
Indian plates. These 2 plates are convergent and
formed the Himalayan mountains.
This is a picture of the
Himalayan mountains which
formed because of activity along
a convergent boundary.
oceanic- continental
continental- continental
oceanic- oceanic
Section 2 Pictures
This is a photo of a volcano
spewing molten rock or
magma (technically called lava
when it reaches the surface).
This is a photo
of a landslide
that occurred in
El Salvador
This is a photo of the damage that occurred
in the result of an earthquake. This
earthquake occurred in Japan in 2004. Japan
is dead in the center where the North
American, Philippine and Pacific plates meet.
This is a prime example of a
mudslide and what it can do to
towns and homes.
This is a diagram of an
oceanic trench that
formed when 2
convergent plates
collided.
Section 3 Divergent Boundaries
•
This type of Boundary is where 2 plates move
away from each other in opposite direction.
Ridges and valleys can occur from the spreading of
the 2 plates. One major example of this is the Mid
Atlantic ridge. The mid Atlantic ridge is the worlds
largest mountain range and it stretches from the
arctic ocean all the way down to the southern tip
of Africa. It separates the North American plate
from the Eurasian plate in the North Atlantic
Ocean and the African and South American plates
in the South Atlantic ocean.
This is a diagram of what occurs
at a divergent boundary.
This is a map of the Mid Atlantic Ridge in the
Atlantic Ocean. It played a major role in the
breakup of Pangaea.
Section 3 Pictures
This is a sonar diagram of the mid ocean
ridge. Sonar gives us the opportunity to
map under water land features and
other features that we can use to better
understand earths surface.
This is a map of all of the plate boundaries
across the world.
Section 4 Transform Boundaries
•
A transform boundary is a boundary
where 2 plates slide past each other and
friction occurs. Many earthquakes occur
along these boundaries. Earthquakes and
Tsunamis are the only 2 occurrences that
really occur along these boundaries. An
example of a Transform boundary is the
San Andreas fault in California. The San
Andreas fault runs about 810 miles and
marks the boundary between the North
American and Pacific plates.
This is an Aerial photo
of the San Andreas
Fault in California.
This is a diagram of what occurs at transform boundaries.
Section 4 Pictures
This is a diagram of the transform
boundary in California. This is the
boundary that separates the pacific and
North American plate.
This is a map showing the most and least earthquake probable
areas in California.
This picture shows major
structural damage that
can happen when an
earthquake ruptures along
the San Andreas fault line.
Section 5 Real World Connections
•
As Americans, we live on the North American Plate. The
North American plate is bordered by the Eurasian,
African, South American and Pacific plates. The North
American plate is the only plate that contains the United
states. The real big threat in the united states in in
California and along the pacific plate. There is a danger
here because this is where a transform boundary is and
earthquakes and other natural disasters can occur here.
Landslides and mudslides may rarely occur due to
shaking from powerful earthquakes. We may also need
to worry about our future. In 1811 one of the strongest
earthquakes in history occurred on the New Madrid
fault line near Missouri. Scientists may believe this fault
line is due to rupture again. Scientists also have a theory
that all of the seismic activity from the San Andreas fault
could cause large chunks of land to break away from
California and slide into the ocean. All of our oil drilling
and mining could also in the future rupture new fault
lines and cause more and stronger earthquakes.
Scientists also have a theory that a “mega” Tsunami
could strike Hawaii and wipe out a large portion of it.
Also more and stronger volcano eruption and
earthquakes could occur in Hawaii and along the pacific
ring of fire.
This diagram shows the New
Madrid seismic area that caused a
major earthquake that rang church
bells in Boston, Massachusetts in
1811.
This diagram shows all of the
earthquakes that have occurred
around the New Madrid fault line
since 1974 but none of these were
as major a scientists believe we
could experience.
Section 5 Pictures
This is a great diagram of the North American plate and all of the plates that surround it. Take a look at
this map and look at where the pacific plate and North American plates meet. Now Take a look at the
map below and look at where all of the major earthquakes have occurred. They have all occurred along
this plate boundary area.
This picture/diagram show what level of shaking
is most high and least high in a building.
Earthquakes can also cause a great number of
structural damage and we need to prepare
ourselves better for more and larger
earthquakes.
This map of the united states show the level of
seismic hazard throughout the united states. It
also show earthquakes that have occurred since
1978 that had a magnitude of 6.5 or higher.
Most of them have occurred along the North
American and pacific plate boundary. This
boundary area is also called the pacific ring of
fire.
Cited Sources page for Plate Tectonics project
Section 1: http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/techist.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea
Section 2:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_boundary
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/description_plate_tectonics.html
Section 3:
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/plate2.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergent_boundary
Section 4:
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/description_plate_tectonics.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transform_boundary
Section 5:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/Portals/10/pdf/GeoFacts/geof08.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/OhioGeologicalSurvey/GeologyTopics/GeologicHazards/tabid/7902/Default.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andreas_Fault
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Madrid_Seismic_Zone