Plate Tectonics

The Dynamics of Earth

Present Day Plate Boundaries
 Plate Tectonics
• Fragmented shell of Earth
that is in constant motion:
– Pushing together, pulling
apart and sliding side by
side
• Tectonic Plate: a rigid
moving piece of
lithosphere
– 15 plates
 Continental Drift
• First scientific theory
presented in 1912 by
Alfred Wegener
– Observed the fit of
continental margins of
Africa and South America
• Stated that the
supercontintent
“Pangaea” split apart and
the continents drifted to
current position
 Continental Drift Hypothesis
• Based on 4
supporting
evidence:
1. Continent
coastlines look
like puzzle pieces
2) Fossils of the same
ancient organisms
found across the
ocean from each
other
3) Mountain belts with matching rock type
and structure terminate at one continent
edge and begin again across the ocean
4) Paleoclimates
– Evidence of ancient
glaciation in
currently warm
regions
– Evidence of ancient
tropical swamps in
current cold/frozen
regions
 Supporting Evidence
• Continental jigsaw puzzle pieces
• Fossils
• Geologic Structure (Mountain Ranges &
Rocks)
• Ancient Climates
 Wegener’s Observations
• Based on his observations,
– Formation of Pangaea 250 mya
– Continents moved freely over
Earth’s surface to modern day
positions
– Numerous supporting evidence
• Only problem…
– Unable to explain the mechanics of
how continents moved
– Scientist was not well-respected in
any one field (esp. geology)
• Theory was heavily debated for
years.
 Harry Hess
• Geologist at Princeton
• Interested in
Wegener’s theory,
provided the missing
piece
• Collected magnetic
survey data while in
the Navy during &
after WWII
 Ocean Floor Discovery
• During & After WWII, U.S.
& U.S.S.R. (Modern-day
Russia) conducted
magnetic survey of ocean
floor
• Startling observations:
– Distinctive magnetic
lineations, acting like a tape
recorder of Earth’s
Magnetic Field
– Lineations reflect the
changes in Earth’s
Magnetic Field and are
symmetrical
– Used to measure rate of
seafloor movements.
 Seafloor Spreading Theory
• Provide an explanation of
how continents can move
(MISSING PIECE to C.D.
Theory)
• Developed by Harry Hess
in the 1950’s to early
1960’s
– Proposed that not only
continents move, but ocean
floor also moves.
 Mechanics of Seafloor Spreading
• Hypothesis developed
in 1959 by HarryHess
• States that the crust is
continually being
formed at mid-ocean
ridges
– Causing seafloor to
spread on average 1-2
inch per year
 Supporting Evidence
• Geomagnetic Stripes
showing changes in
Earth’s Magnetic
Field
– Normals & Reversals
• Earth’s magnetic
poles reverse roughly
every .5 million years
or so
 Geomagnetic Reversals
• Earth behaves like a bar
magnet due to rotation of
liquid outer core
• As basalt cools, magnetic
minerals aligned with
north & south magnetic
poles
• Reversals recorded in
mirrored belts along
ocean ridges
 Modern-day Plate Tectonics Theory

• Overwhelming supporting
evidence:
– Apparent “Polar
Wandering” curves that
match for North America &
Europe
– Earthquake Patterns
– Hotspot Activities
• Hawaii
• Yellowstone
Earthquake Patterns
 What Drives Plate Tectonics?
• Heat movement within the Mantle but
scientists are still investigating…
• Convection Currents in the mantle
• Hot plumes
– Sudden burst of heat coming up from the outer
core through the mantle  volcanic
 Types of Plate Boundaries
• Divergent
• Convergent
– Collision
– Subduction
• Transform
 Divergent Plate Boundary
• Plates are moving
apart
• Caused by upwelling
of magma due to
decreased pressure
• New Lithosphere
being created
• Mid-Ocean Ridge
• http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/animations
/basic_plate_boundaries.htm
 Divergent Plate Boundaries
• Plates are moving
apart
• New lithosphere is
being created
• Rift Valley
• Ex: East African Rift
 Convergent Plate Boundary
• Plates moving together
• 3 Types:
– Oceanic-Oceanic
– Oceanic-Continental
– Continental-Continental
• Lithosphere is being destroyed
– Melted in the Asthenosphere.
 Oceanic-Oceanic
• One oceanic plate that is
older, colder and denser
slips underneath the
other --> Subduction
• Older rocks are recycled
to the Asthenosphere
• Forms:
– Volcanic/Island Arcs
– Trenches
• Aleutian, Mariana
• http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/animations
/basic_plate_boundaries.htm
 Oceanic-Continental
• Oceanic crust is always
more dense than
Continental crust so it
subducts.
• Recycled oceanic crust
melts (becomes less
dense) and moves up to
surface
• Forms:
– Volcanoes
• Ring of Fire
 Continental-Continental
• Two continental crusts
collide, usually one
goes underneath the
other
• Forms:
– Mountain Chains
• Himalayas
• Appalachians
• Alps
 Transform Plate Boundary
• Plates sliding past
each other
• Lithosphere is not
created or destroyed
• Major Fault lines
– San Andreas
(California)
– Alpine (New Zealand)
• http://www.wwnorton.com/college/geo/animations
/basic_plate_boundaries.htm
• http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/ter
c/content/visualizations/es0804/es0804page01.cfm?
chapter_no=visualization
 Advantages of Modern Technology
• Use of GPS satellite to
track plate motion
– Network of 24 satellites
in orbit 20,000 km above
Earth
– For every pair of plates,
the relative motion is
defined by a direction
and a magnitude (tens of
mm per year).
Determines amount and
type of earthquake and
volcanic activity along a
plate boundary.
Future Super Continents?
Future Super Continents?
 Future
Supercontinents