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A theory that says that the Earths outer shell consists of individual plates that interact to produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the crust
Suggested a supercontinent
Pangea (all land)
ASTHENOSPHERE Bottom
Weaker than lithosphere Soft Top portion of asthenosphere has temperatures/pressures that result in some melting
Theory states:
Distance between 2 places on the same plate will stay (relatively) the same Distance between 2 places on different plates will gradually change
DIVERGENT
What is observed?
Sea floor is elevated forming the oceanic ridge system Down the middle of the ridge is a rift valley
Does this mean that the planet is expanding (new crust is formed, meaning more land)?
HOW?
CONVERGENT
Also called destructive late margins (lithosphere destroyed here) 2 plates move towards each other
Also called subduction zones (sub under, duct land)
Subduction results from a denser plate sliding under the other plate
Continental lithosphere is less dense than the asthenosphere It will resist subduction
Volcanic eruptions result Volcanoes grow from the ocean floor and will eventually build a chain of islands
this arc shaped chain of volcanic islands is called a volcanic island arc
TRANSFORM FAULT
Also called conservative plate margins
Plates slide past each other
No construction or destruction is involved
2.Hot Spots -- areas of volcanism and high heat flow -- as a plate moves over a hot spot, volcanoes are successively built
3. Paleomagnetism
-- minerals loose magnetism when heated above a certain temperature -- as they cool, they become magnitized in the direction of the Earths existing magnetic field
-- the Earths magnetic field reverses its polarity ** seafloor spreading shows reverse magnetic field
GPS
Plates will stop moving when enough of the Earths internal heat has been lost