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The essay about the theory of tectonic plates
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The essay about the theory of tectonic plates
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More than 170 million years ago all of the continents formed a single landmass, called Pangaea. Around this time a period of rifting commenced, breaking up Pangaea, forming super-continents and opening vast new oceans. This was the beginning of continental drifting. Continental drifting is an interesting natural occurrence and such immense shifting can lead to earthquakes, which in turn can lead to tsunamis (McCarthy and Rubidge, 2005). Evidence of the movement of continents was first found in the 1950s and 1960s, in a north-south direction, during geological time. Continents had also undergone relative motions and this is known as continental drifting. The movement of these continents across the surface of the Earth can be because of its pole and angle of rotation (Keary and Vine, 1996). The tectonic plates, plates that Earth’s outer shell is composed of, move around constantly on a hot layer of rock called the asthenosphere (Ochoa, 2007). The cold lithosphere descends at subduction zones [explain]. This happens because of the lithosphere being denser than the asthenosphere and results in plate motions/ convection currents, and movement is made possible by the slippery layer of the asthenosphere. This is known as the theory of plate tectonics (McCarthy and Rubidge, 2005). Continental drifting results in the breaking and assembling of continents, the raising of mountain ranges and volcanic islands, and the opening of rifts and creation of ridges and trenches. The most dramatic evidence of plate movement are provided by earthquakes and associated tsunamis (also known as sea-quakes). They are located on the boundaries of moving plates (Ochoa, 2007; Norma and Whitfield, 2006). Earthquakes are generated when plates move relative to ... ... middle of paper ... ...7). Miskien op ‘n ander manier dit se(raak ontslae van al die “of”s) ?The consequences of tsunamis are the death of thousands of people, destroying of homes, and the destruction of any man made equipment that gets in the way of the tsunami (Norman and Whitfield, 2006). No one can stop tsunamis happening. However, the effects of a tsunami can be reduced by making shorelines less vulnerable (Rothery, 2007). Continental drifting is driven by the interaction between the oceans and the hot interior of Earth. Therefore, without oceans there would be no continents and no continental drifting and therefore, no new formation of oceans, no earthquakes or tsunamis. If this cycle did not happen, no new species would have evolved or no natural formation would occur. This shows us the importance of continental drifting and events occurring with it (McCarthy and Rubidge, 2005).
Earthquakes are a natural part of the Earth’s evolution. Scientific evidence leads many geologists to believe that all of the land on Earth was at one point in time connected. Because of plate tectonic movements or earthquakes, continental drift occurred separating the one massive piece of land in to the seven major continents today. Further evidence supports this theory, starting with the Mid-Atlantic ridge, a large mass of plate tectonics, which are increasing the size of the Atlantic Ocean while shrinking the Pacific. Some scientists believe that the major plate moveme...
The earth is split into four layers, inner and outer core, the mantle and crust. The top of the mantle and crust make up what is like the skin of our earth (see source 2). The skin is split up like a puzzle and we call these puzzle pieces’ tectonic plates (see source 1). These plates are constantly moving and the plate boundaries (edges of the plates) move and slide past one another. Sometimes as the plates move the plate boundaries become stuck. Pressure builds up in the stuck area over time and eventually breaks. This is why earthquakes occur due to the sudden movement of the plate sliding and breaking creating a fault line to go off. The fault line is the line on which the
The Mid- Atlantic Oceanic Ridge is the best known divergent boundaries. Divergent boundaries are when two plates move apart from one another. The Mid-Atlantic Oceanic Ridge is spreading at an average of 2.5 centimeters a year ("Understanding plate motions [This Dynamic Earth, USGS]", 2014). This underwater mountain range a prime example of seafloor spreading as well. Seafloor spreading creates new oceanic lithosphere when the two plates pull apart and magma is allowed to well up and fill the crack. This also causes underwater mountains to form if the magma flows upwards past the crust (Tarbuck & Lutgens, 2015). It is important to understand how these ranges are created, especially because they can give scientists an idea on when new islands or continents may be formed. It also allows scientists to understand what may cause other plates to diverge from one
The theory of plate tectonics, only recently introduced to the world, transforms the thought that the earth has been the same since its beginning. The theory alters the view of the average person almost in the way that Columbus showed the world was round. The theory of plate tectonics was developed from the theories of continental drift and sea-floor spreading and states that the earth’s surface is divided into several large plates, which are constantly in motion.
Since the beginning of human kind there has been a cloud of wonder of how our planet was formed. Scientist interested in this field through out the years have developed many different theories to how our planet came about. Before the Twentieth Century, scientists and geologists thought that mountain structures were due to the massive tightening of the earth caused by the gradual cooling of molten rocks. In 1900, American scientist Joseph Le Conte, published an article in the Appleton's Popular Scientific Monthly. He described that the problem in understanding mountain building was establishing the cause of sideways pressure. It was not until 1910, that an American Geologist named F.B.Taylor, proposed the idea of a continental drift. Other scientists dismissed Taylor's idea, because there was just not enough proof. However, Taylor's idea was then backed up by a German scientist named Alfred Wegener. He proposed that the continents surrounding the Atlantic Ocean, Africa and South America fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. His broad range of studies enabled him to incorporate his theory of Plate Tectonics. Wegener, later in 1915 while in the German military published his idea that interpreted how his continental drift theory worked. He proposed that a huge landmass called Pangea, meaning ("all land") existed 200 million years ago. He furthered explained that this super continent began to drift apart very slowly throughout millions of years into what it looks like now. Wegener went on several expeditions through out his life to the continents of South America and Africa.
The continents are old but the ocean floors are young do to volcanic activity from the ocean ridges. It is was difficult and complicated process for oceanographers and geologists to find about the shape of seabed. Seafloor features result from a combination of tectonic activity and the processes of erosion and deposition. Guyots are the flat-toped seamounts which were formed millions of years ago in the mid-ocean ridge crest due to volcanic eruptions. Magma from asthenosphere progressively shaped the seamount. Some seamounts were formed above the sea-level. Eventually, ocean floor moved and the seamounts were carried away as well, away from its source of lava and became non-active volcano or a seamount. This activity formed a chain of seamounts, tablemounts and islands. Some seamounts have its top above the sea-level. Seamounts with tops (islands) above the sea-level had their tops eroded by waves and wind, eventually, wearing the top down and thus formed a flat top. In millions of years, these flat-toped mounts (guyots) were submerged beneath the ocean and away from the mid-ocean
...t of laurasia, just like most of the other plates. North America,Europe, and Green land all used to be connect because of Pangea ( as mentioned earlier). But when everything started to separate, first europe, then green land, and lastly the North American plate. After pangea was no more and the plates all started moving, the continents started going their own ways, there fore putting the continents where they are today.
Ocean and atmosphere found in the narrative confusion between continents conflicting answers. Puzzle movement of tectonic plates of the Earth changes as part of the globe, LED itself is interesting that the change in the parameter does not interfere with the ocean circulation
The plate tectonic theory is a theory that geologists use to help explain the Earth’s surface processes and events. It explains that the sliding of these plates are either away from each other, sliding past each other, or sliding into each other and causing one of the plates to slide beneath the other. There are three kinds of plate tectonic boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform plate boundaries. A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. Magma then flows up from the mantle to fill in the space between the plates, forming a raised ridge called a mid-ocean ridge. The magma also spreads in the exterior, forming new ocean floor and new oceanic crust. A convergent boundary occurs when two plates
Ever since the beginning on time, Humans believed the ground is solid and immobile. But this is not true whatsoever. The Earth is every-changing and continually in motion. The stability of the Earth is not at all what we think it is. Thinking about the rotational axis of the Earth, and possibly of what the Earth may become at a certain point in time, has a great influence on understanding all aspects of living things, either in the past, present, or future. The Theory of Plate tectonics is accredited to most of the creations of Mountain Ranges, the Centennial drifting Theory, for earthquakes, and volcanic activity. Plate tectonics and mountains also play a big part in the Earth and its geological features.
Earth was formed 4.8 billion years ago (3) . It became the home for hazelnuts because it had an atmosphere and environment which allowed for life to prosper in later years. Earth’s surface was once composed of a single landmass, known as Pangaea (1).Over time it was broken up into seven different plates which were free to move as a result of movements in the hot, semi-liquid magma beneath the...
Today, when people want to cross over the ocean and get to another continent, they have to take plane for eight or more hours or ship for few days. However, if people were born millions of years ago, they might easily cross a boundary of tow continents by accident. Because according to the continental drift theory, ages ago, the continents today were a completed one piece and called Pangaea. (Sandner, 506-507)
The continental drift theory and plate tectonics theory was first put forward by the German geologist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener at the beginning of the 20th century. He proposed that there was a single continental in 200 million years ago, and the Earth’s crust slowly separate to pieces by the
Researching and studying the theory of plate tectonics is incredibly important to earth science and the world. With your support we will be able to predict and prepare for not only earthquakes, but also volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The theory of plate tectonics is not over, the earth is always changing and moving, so the theory of plate tectonics must also change with the earth and not just be based on only the past. With your continuing investment we will be able to adapt, learn, and protect ourselves from the natural occurrences that can be minor on
Diastrophism is deformation of earth’s crust, caused by folding and faulting. Convergent plate boundaries are formed through diastrophism. A convergent boundary (or a destructive plate boundary) is formed when two or more tectonic, lithospheric plates collide. There are two types of plates: oceanic (more dense) and continental (less dense). If two oceanic plates collide, subduction will occur. Subduction refers to the movement of one plate, sliding underneath another plate. The plate that is pushed down is consumed by the magma in the internal structure of the earth. When this happens, there will be a large, deep underwater trench where the subduction occurred (Mariana’s trench is an example of this). The plate that is consumed by magma causes