Theory of Plate Tectonics

! Surface of the Earth is covered by a series of plates ! Creation of seafloor at mid-ocean ridges is compensated by destruction at subduction zones ! Continents never subduct

What drives plate motion?

! Crust travels from spreading center where it created to subuction zone where it is destroyed. ! What closes the loop?

Deformation of Solids
! Elastic deformation (reversible) ! Fracture (irreversible) ! Ductile deformation (irreversible) ! Rocks are brittle at low pressure, low temperature, fast stresses ! Rocks can flow at high pressures and temperatures and when stress is applied slowly

Can solids flow?

Can solids flow?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njTjfJcAsBg

Can solids flow?

Does ductile flow in mantle connect downwelling at subduction zones and crust formation at ridges?

Evidence for flow in the mantle

! Isostatic compensation of continents and ocean crust ! Isostatic rebound from glaciation

Archimedes principle
! The upward bouyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid

hf

mb g h b Fb

Fb = mbg (balance of forces) mfg = mbg (Archimedes) !fhfAbg= !bhbAbg hf/hb= !b/!f

Archimedes principle
! The upward bouyant force on an object is equal to the weight of the displaced fluid

! keeping the pressure at depth constant

Water has a density of 1 g cm-2. Wood has a density of .5 g cm-2. What fraction of a wood block floats below the surface of the water?

Water has a density of 1 g cm-2. Ice has a density of .9 g cm-2. What fraction of an iceberg floats below the surface of the water?

The mantle has a density of 3.3 g cm-2. Continental crust has a density of 2.6 g cm-2. If the continent were floating on the mantle what fraction would be beneath the surface?

Continental Crust

How do we know continents have roots?

Fg = GMm/r2 For which case will we measure a stronger gravitational pull?
!=2.6 !=2.6 !=3.3 !=3.3

Oceanic Crust

How easily can the mantle flow?

Viscosity of peanut butter 105 x greater than water Viscosity of the mantle 1024 x greater than water

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Is there convection in the mantle?

What drives convection?

density contrast in a fluid (heating from below)

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Mantle Convection

Heat Source = Radioactive decay

What inhibits convection?

! If a fluid is too viscous the heat will be transferred by conduction, not convection

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Rayleigh Number

" = coefficient of thermal expansion g = gravitational constant #T = temperature difference between the top and bottom h = height $ = viscosity %!= thermal conductivity Ra > 2000 Convection will occur Ra of mantle O(106)

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All else being equal which of the following properties do not encourage convection in a fluid that is heated from below?
1.! 2.! 3.! 4.! Low viscosity Low thermal conductivity Thick layer of fluid Low coefficient of thermal expansion

Do plate boundaries correspond to mantle convection cells?

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Where is subduction? Ridges must be migrating away from each other

Are rising and desceding branches at the same spot?

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Shallow (100s km) upwelling at ridges

Driven by gap created by spreading. Not convection.

.. One part of the picture is correct

The slab descends to the core mantle boundary

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Does slab pull help drive plate motion?

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Where is rising motion?

Intra-plate (hot spot) volcanism

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Mantle plumes extend to the core-mantle boundary

Active Mantle plumes

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Which of the following statements is true?

1.! Mantle convection is unrelated to plate tectonics 2.! Subduction zones correspond to the downdrafts in mantle convection 3.! Spreading centers correspond to the updrafts in mantle covection 4.! Hotspots correspond to the downdrafts in mantle convection

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