Essay on 4 Plate Tectonics

Submitted By NgoSusan9
Words: 510
Pages: 3
Open Document
Plate
Tectonics

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

-Provides the mechanisms for the next segment of class
- Earthquakes
- Volcanoes
- Earth is a dynamic system not only as climate, but in solids as well
- Rock solids move and interact
- Source of energy is from within the Earth
- Residual heat from Earth’s formation
- Very term and concept heavy. Get these things down…

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Components of Earth
Crust (two types)Oceanic Crust- Thin, dense crust formed at mid-ocean ridges
(basaltic).
Continental CrustThick, less dense continental material (silicic).
Mantle- Solid but acts plastic (moves over geologic time)
Outer Core- Liquid iron and nickel
Inner Core- Solid iron and nickel

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Components of Earth
LithosphereConsists of crust and upper part of upper mantle
AsthenosphereConsists of highly viscous portion of the upper mantle

These terms are described by their mechanical qualities, not chemical/mineral!

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

- Crust is broken into pieces
- Called Tectonic Plates
- These plates move atop the mantle due to underlying forces (and others).
We call this processPlate Tectonics- The big picture that describes movement of crustal plates.

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Driving forces

Convection drives plate tectonics. Tectonic plates in turn move on atop the currents and interact with each other
- Smashing into each other - Pulling away from each other - Rubbing against each other GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Boundaries

3 types
Divergent- Where plates pull apart

Convergent- Where plates smash together

Transform- Where plates pass one another

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Boundaries

Divergent Boundary- Rising magma creates pull apart conditions and crust rips apart. New crust forms at boundary.

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Boundaries

Divergence of rock (think of this as stretching) can occur on a continent. Leads to a thinning of the continent and ‘Basin and Range’ (Nevada)

Nevada is America’s stretch mark

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Boundaries

Convergent
Boundary- Two plates smash into each other.
These are subduction zones and collision zones
(mountain
building areas).

GSC 350
Natural Disasters

Boundaries

Hand sample rock densities- Oceanic Crust
(basalt) is
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on 4 Plate Tectonics

Essay on Balls: Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics Midterm Project Purpose: Students will research types and locations of different plate boundaries found on planet Earth and discover how these boundaries have influenced the culture in a particular location. ***Do not plagiarize, all work must original*** ***All work must be typed*** Part I (100 pts) Choose a Plate Boundary from one of the following boundaries Convergent Boundary India (Himalayas Mountains) Japan Andres Mountains (South America) Divergent Boundary…

Words 931 - Pages 4

Jb123 Boy Essay

Geomorphic Comparison Geomorphic of Volcanoes on Earth and Mars: Implications for Plate Tectonics for Liz Roberts University of Hawai`i at University Hawai at Mānoa Arkansas-Oklahoma Ok Center for Space and Planetary Sciences Planetary July 29, 2004 Fayetteville, Arkansas 1 About this Presentation Volcanoes are asymmetric in shape in map view and airborne and spaceborne imagery is utilized for measuring their circular spaceborne imager symmetry symmetry Shield volcanoes…

Words 737 - Pages 3

My Essay

physiology. 2) Tectonic forces are those originating beneath the surface that alters the surface configuration of the earth as a result of tectonic (lithosphere) plate movement. Plate tectonics is the main force of nature responsible for the geologic history of North America. Over time, the plates have come together to form the continents, including North America. Other processes, such as sedimentation and erosion, modify the shape of the land that has been forged by plate tectonics. 3) By 12000…

Words 799 - Pages 4

Earthquakes: Earthquake and San Fransisco Ack Essay

San Francisco.The Great San Francisco Earthquake caused the ground to shift at about 4 to 5 feet per second, and the rupture traveled at about 5,900 miles per hour. The magnitude of the earthquake was estimated to be 7.8. on the Richter scale. Earthquakes happen along fault lines, the lines where tectonic plates meet. Tectonic plates are the huge rocky plates that make up the surface of the earth. Tectonic plates can move apart or collide with each becaue of pressure. This powerful movement tears…

Words 383 - Pages 2

Iceland Case Study

1.What is the geologic setting of Iceland (look in your text)? Iceland is on a tectonic plate, the divergent boundary. The divergent boundary known as the Mid- Atlantic Ridge, runs between the Eurasian plate and the North American plate that move away from each other. The geologic features of this artic place of land formations consist of mountains, hot springs, geysers, glaciers, waterfalls, and volcanos. 2. Describe the valley you see in the video. What type of valley is this? The rift rugged…

Words 476 - Pages 2

Geology Study Guide

(754 miles) in radius. * Mid-ocean ridge – A continuous mountainous ridge on the floor of all the major ocean basins and varying in width from 500 to 5000 km (300 to 3000 miles). The rifts at the crests of the these ridges represent divergent plate boundaries. * Planets – A celestial body moving in an elliptical orbit around a star. * Solar nebula – The cloud of interstellar gas and/or dust from which the bodies of our solar system formed. * Crust – The very thin outermost layer…

Words 2223 - Pages 9

World Geo Chapter 17 Notes Essay

physical processes tectonic movement volcanic activity Notes Read each section of the chapter and describe the physical process and name the four parts of the process . 17.3 How Tectonic Movement Shapes the Earth (include fault­block mountain, fold mountain, tectonic plate, fault in your description) Tectonic plate movement shapes the earth by creating faults (cracks). Some plates fold over creating fold mountains. Other plates drop or rise up creating fault blocks…

Words 496 - Pages 2

The Discovery of New Planets Essay

the rocky surface of Kepler-22, which is the latest discovered planet; the surface of a planet is a highly important feature when comparing an Earth like planet to that of Earth itself. According to an article put forth by Harvard University, plate tectonics are “the forces that move continents and build mountains” without them the world wouldn’t be as unique as it is with its hill topped plains and…

Words 861 - Pages 4

Pet 6060 Study Guide

OGUNLANA OLAOLUWA ADEBIYI B00683781 PET 6060 1) Explain the tectonic evolution of the following types of sedimentary basins Tectonics has to do with the evolution of the earth crust with respect to time (Wikipedia) i) Median sedimentary basin: The stress generated from wrench faulting which occurs within a region of subsidence coupled with subcrustal erosion, and the subsiquent introduction of oceanic material leads to the formation of a median basin. A median basins is therefore described basins…

Words 778 - Pages 4

Essay about Earthquakes: Earthquake and Prince William Sound

natural resources. Anchorage's economy traditionally has seen steady growth, though not quite as rapid as many places in the lower 48 states (Drye W, 2005). TECTONIC PLATES- The tectonic history of the region shows that the Pacific plate moves in a northwestern direction at about five to seven centimeters per year. This Pacific tectonic plate movement causes the crust of southern Alaska to be compressed and warped, with some areas along the coast being depressed while other areas inland are being…

Words 1064 - Pages 5