Plate tectonics describes the movement of tectonic plates. The lithosphere is split into plates that move relative to each other in three main ways: divergence, where plates move apart and new seafloor is created; convergence, where plates collide and can cause subduction or mountain building; and transform movement, where plates slide past each other along transform faults. Alfred Wegener first proposed the theory of continental drift in 1915.
Plate tectonics describes the movement of tectonic plates. The lithosphere is split into plates that move relative to each other in three main ways: divergence, where plates move apart and new seafloor is created; convergence, where plates collide and can cause subduction or mountain building; and transform movement, where plates slide past each other along transform faults. Alfred Wegener first proposed the theory of continental drift in 1915.
Plate tectonics describes the movement of tectonic plates. The lithosphere is split into plates that move relative to each other in three main ways: divergence, where plates move apart and new seafloor is created; convergence, where plates collide and can cause subduction or mountain building; and transform movement, where plates slide past each other along transform faults. Alfred Wegener first proposed the theory of continental drift in 1915.
Plate Tectonics • The science of lithospheric plate movement is called plate tectonics • It is a theory about ocean-spreading, volcanic activity, seismic activity etc • Alfred Wegener suggested in 1915 suggested that all landmasses were once united in a large supercontinent called Pangaea Pangaea What are tectonic plates • Lithosphere = Solid part of upper mantle+Crust • Lithosphere is not continous but is split into fragments called tectonic plates Types of Lithospheric plates • Oceanic Plates: Thinner, denser, depth is about 50km
• Continental Plates: Thicker, lighter, depth is about 150km
Plate Movement • Suggested by Arthur Holmes in 1939 • Presence of Convection Cells Distribution of Tectonic Plates • 8 largest plates Plate Movement • Divergence • Convergence • Transform movement Plate Divergence • At divergent boundaries, two plates move apart from each other and the space that this creates is filled with new crustal material. • Results in Sea-Floor spreading
• Forms Mid-Oceanic Ridges and Rift Valleys
• e.g Red Sea Plate Divergence • Mid Oceanic Ridges-Sea and Floor Spreading Plate Divergence • Rift Valleys Plate Divergence Plate Convergence • There are 3 types of convergent boundaries: • Oceanic-Continental Convergence; • Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence; • Continental-Continental Convergence. Oceanic-Continental Convergence • When an oceanic plate (denser) pushes into and subducts under a continental plate, the overriding continental plate is lifted up and volcanic activity occurs Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence • When two oceanic plates converge one is usually subducted under the other and in the process a deep oceanic trench (huge depression) is formed • Island Arcs also formed Continental-Continental Convergence • When two continents meet head-on, neither is subducted • Results in formation of Fold mountains e.g Himalayas Transform movement • Transform-Fault Boundaries are where two plates are sliding horizontally past one another. These are also known as transform boundaries or more commonly as fault • e.g San Andreas fault zone Transform Fault Transform movement