Scribd
Upload
42 views36 pages

Plate Tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics brings together concepts of continental drift and seafloor spreading to explain observations about Earth's surface. The theory proposes that plates consisting of oceanic and continental crust move over Earth's surface due to seafloor spreading. This explains many geological features like mountain ranges, earthquake activity, and the distribution of plants and animals over time. Plate tectonics influences processes within Earth like the rock cycle and climate.

Uploaded by

JoHan Xyth Rizaldo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
42 views36 pages

Plate Tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics brings together concepts of continental drift and seafloor spreading to explain observations about Earth's surface. The theory proposes that plates consisting of oceanic and continental crust move over Earth's surface due to seafloor spreading. This explains many geological features like mountain ranges, earthquake activity, and the distribution of plants and animals over time. Plate tectonics influences processes within Earth like the rock cycle and climate.

Uploaded by

JoHan Xyth Rizaldo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 36

PLATE

TECTONICS
G11 Earth Science
The Evidence Comes Together
 The seafloor has a large mountain range running through it.
 • Deep trenches are found far from the ridges.
 • Guyots have eroded tops that are deep below sea level.
 • The magnetic polarity of the seafloor changes.
 • The center of the ridge is of normal polarity.
 • Stripes of normal and reverse polarity are found symmetrical on
 both sides of the ridge.
 • The youngest seafloor is at the ridge.
 • The oldest is farthest from the ridge.
 • The oldest seafloor is much younger than the oldest continent.
Tectonic Plate
Motions
Theory of Plate Tectonics
 The theory of plate tectonics is what brings
together continental drift and seafloor
spreading. Plates are made of lithosphere
topped with oceanic and/or continental crust.
The plates are moved around on Earth’s surface
by seafloor spreading.
What The Theory Explains
 Plate tectonics theory explains why:
 • Earth's geography has changed over time and continues to change today.
 • some places are prone to earthquakes while others are not.
 • certain regions may have deadly, mild, or no volcanic eruptions.
 • mountain ranges are located where they are.
 • many ore deposits are located where they are.
 • living and fossil species of plants and animals are found where they are.
 • some continental margins have a lot of geological activity, and some have none.
 • Plate tectonic motions affect Earth’s rock cycle, climate, and the evolution of life.
Divergent Plate
Boundaries in the
Oceans
Mid-ocean Ridges
Continental Rifting
Transform Plate
Boundaries
Convergent Plate
Boundaries
Ocean-Continent Convergence
Ocean-Ocean Convergence
Continent-Continent Convergence
Supercontinent Cycle and Pangaea

You might also like