Plate Tectonics

6.E.2.2 Explain how crustal plates and ocean basins are formed, move and interact using earthquakes, heat flow and volcanoes to reflect forces within the earth.

Looking at the world map, what do you notice about the shape of the continents?

Looking at the world map, what do you notice about the shape of the continents?

The world didn’t always look like that! It used to look like this:The world didn’t always look like that! It used to look like this:

Pangaea Supercontinent

How is this possible?!?!?How is this possible?!?!?

Plate Tectonics Theory

The lithosphere is divided into a number of large and small plates and the plates are floating on the mantleLithosphere = the Earth’s crustcrust plus the upper portion of the mantlemantle layer

How Plates MoveHow Plates Move

• A Canadian scientist, J. Tuzo Wilson, claimed the lithosphere is broken into separate sections called plates. These plates fit together along cracks in the lithosphere.

• Scientists realized that the continental drift idea could be explained by sea floor spreading. Wilson took what these scientists knew and combined it with his idea about Earth’s plates into a single theory.

• A scientific theory is a well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations.

Sea floor spreading provides the driving mechanism for movement

However, it is not the continents that are moving, but the “plates” of lithosphere “floating” in effect on the asthenosphere

The lithosphere is made up of about 20 plates which move relative to each other in several ways

The theory of plate tectonics states that pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in slow, constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation, movement, and subduction of Earth’s plates.

Sea floor spreading provides the driving mechanism for movement

However, it is not the continents that are moving, but the “plates” of lithosphere “floating” in effect on the asthenosphere

The lithosphere is made up of about 20 plates which move relative to each other in several ways

The theory of plate tectonics states that pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in slow, constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation, movement, and subduction of Earth’s plates.

How Plates Move(Cont.)

How Plates Move(Cont.)

Evidence of Plate Movement

Evidence of Plate Movement

Major Tectonic Plates of the World

““PlatesPlates”” of lithosphere are moved around by the underlying hot mantle of lithosphere are moved around by the underlying hot mantle convection cellsconvection cells

ConvectionConvection

Convection is heat transfer by the movement of currents within a fluid. During convection, heated particles of fluid begin to flow. This flow transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another.

Heat from the core and the mantle itself causes convection currents in the mantle.

Convection is heat transfer by the movement of currents within a fluid. During convection, heated particles of fluid begin to flow. This flow transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another.

Heat from the core and the mantle itself causes convection currents in the mantle.

Examples of ConvectionExamples of Convection

Examples of Convection(Cont.)

Examples of Convection(Cont.)

Convection CurrentsConvection Currents

Many geologists think that plumes of mantle rock rise slowly from the bottom of the mantle toward the top. The hot rock eventually cools and sinks back through the mantle. Over and over, the cycle of rising and sinking takes place.

There are also convection currents in the outer core. These convection currents cause Earth’s magnetic field.

Many geologists think that plumes of mantle rock rise slowly from the bottom of the mantle toward the top. The hot rock eventually cools and sinks back through the mantle. Over and over, the cycle of rising and sinking takes place.

There are also convection currents in the outer core. These convection currents cause Earth’s magnetic field.

As the Earth’s plates move, they collide, pull apart, or grind past each other, producing spectacular changes in Earth’s surface. These changes include volcanoes, mountain ranges, and deep-ocean trenches.

As the Earth’s plates move, they collide, pull apart, or grind past each other, producing spectacular changes in Earth’s surface. These changes include volcanoes, mountain ranges, and deep-ocean trenches.

Plate BoundariesPlate Boundaries

Divergent boundaries (also called spreading centers) are the place where two plates move apart.

Convergent boundaries form where two plates move together.

Transform fault boundaries are margins where two plates grind past each other without the production or destruction of the lithosphere.

Divergent boundaries (also called spreading centers) are the place where two plates move apart.

Convergent boundaries form where two plates move together.

Transform fault boundaries are margins where two plates grind past each other without the production or destruction of the lithosphere.

Types of Plate Boundaries

Types of Plate Boundaries

Oceanic Ridges and Seafloor Spreading

• Seafloor spreading produces new oceanic lithosphere.

• Rift valleys are deep faulted structures found along the axes of divergent plate boundaries. They can develop on the seafloor or on land.

• Oceanic ridges are continuous elevated zones on the floor of all major ocean basins. The rifts at the crest of ridges represent divergent plate boundaries.

Divergent boundaries:Divergent boundaries:

Spreading CenterSpreading Center

A subduction zone occurs when one oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle beneath a second plate.

Oceanic-Continental• Denser oceanic slab sinks into the asthenosphere.

• Pockets of magma develop and rise.

• Continental volcanic arcs form in part by volcanic activity caused by the subduction of oceanic lithosphere beneath a continent.

• Examples include the Andes, Cascades, and the Sierra Nevadas.

Convergent BoundariesConvergent Boundaries

Oceanic-Continental Convergent BoundaryOceanic-Continental Convergent Boundary

Oceanic-Oceanic

• Two oceanic slabs converge and one descends beneath the other.• This kind of boundary often forms volcanoes on the ocean floor.

• Volcanic island arcs form as volcanoes emerge from the sea.

• Examples include the Aleutian, Mariana, and Tonga islands.

Convergent BoundariesConvergent Boundaries(Cont.)(Cont.)

Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent Boundary

Oceanic-Oceanic Convergent Boundary

Continental-Continental

• When subducting plates contain continental material, two continents collide.

• This kind of boundary can produce new mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas.

Convergent BoundariesConvergent Boundaries(Cont.)(Cont.)

Continental-Continental Convergent Boundary

Continental-Continental Convergent Boundary

Convergent boundaries Convergent boundaries

Oceanic-Continental

Oceanic-Oceanic

Continental-Continental

Plate tectonics: predicting the future

Plate tectonics: predicting the future

Plate tectonics: predicting the future

(Cont.)

Plate tectonics: predicting the future

(Cont.)

Australia will straddle the equator

E. Africa will form new continent

Mediterranean will close offAtlantic Ocean will growPacific Ocean will shrink

Australia will straddle the equator

E. Africa will form new continent

Mediterranean will close offAtlantic Ocean will growPacific Ocean will shrink

QuestionsQuestions

What theory states that the lithosphere is divided into large and small plates?

A. Plate Tectonics Theory B. Plain Tectonics Theory C. Plain Technicians Theory D. Plate Technicians Theory

What theory states that the lithosphere is divided into large and small plates?

A. Plate Tectonics Theory B. Plain Tectonics Theory C. Plain Technicians Theory D. Plate Technicians Theory

What type of plate boundary is formed when two plates move apart?

A. Transform fault boundary B. Convergent boundary C. Divergent boundary D. None of the above

What type of plate boundary is formed when two plates move apart?

A. Transform fault boundary B. Convergent boundary C. Divergent boundary D. None of the above

A _______________ Zone occurs when one oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle beneath a second plate.

A. Continental B. Convection C. Subtraction D. Subduction

A _______________ Zone occurs when one oceanic plate is forced down into the mantle beneath a second plate.

A. Continental B. Convection C. Subtraction D. Subduction

The EndThe End