1. Plate Tectonics

2. Plate Tectonics
The Theory of Plate Tectonics is a theory that describes the formation, movements, and interactions of Earth’s lithospheric plates that move on the asthenosphere.

3. Theory of Plate Tectonics
The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains why earthquakes and volcanoes are likely to occur in particular locations and how new crust forms along the ocean floor.

4. Earthquakes and volcanic activity occur primarily at the location of plate boundaries.
Plate boundaries are where 2 plates are pushing toward, pulling away, or sliding past each other. The strain and friction causes fractures in the earth, where earthquakes occur and where the fractures allow molten rock to flow to the surface.

5. Evidence for plate tectonics was also found in igneous rocks which recorded the direction of Earth’s magnetic field.

6. Mid-ocean ridge is a long chain of volcanic mountains on the ocean floor with a deep central valley. The mid-ocean ridge always shows the magnetic orientation of the North and South poles.

7. Mid-ocean Ridge
A pattern of bands on either side of the mid-ocean ridge show the changes in magnetic orientation.

8. Mid-ocean Ridges
Rocks at the center of the mid-ocean ridge are the youngest.
Mid-ocean ridges are boundaries where plates are moving apart.
(so the farther the rocks are from the mid-ocean ridge the the rocks are).
older

9. 3 Main Hypothesis Which Cause of Plate Movement:
Mantle Convection,
Ridge Push, and
Slab Pull

10. Mantle Convection:
Mantle Convection - the transfer (convection) of heat from Earth’s inner and outer cores moves the plates (like a convection belt)

11. Ridge Push
Ridge Push – occurs at the Mid-ocean Ridges
- The hot molten magma rises up at the mid-ocean ridges and as it cools and hardens into a denser rock, the rock pushes out and slides down the ridge, allowing more new hot molten material to flow out of the mid-ocean ridge.

12. Slab Pull – occurs at a subduction boundary.
Slab Pull - Scientists believe this Slab Pull is the greater factor out of the three theories.
Slab Pull – occurs at a subduction boundary.
- The denser, heavier plate sinks underneath the other less dense plate. The edge of the subduction plate is much colder and heavier than the mantle, so it continues to sink and pull the rest of the plate along down with it.

13. CONTINENTAL DRIFT
Alfred Wegener proposed a hypothesis called Continental Drift which said the continents have drifted, or moved from one location to another over time.

14. Continental Drift was proven by:
The shapes of the continents seem to match up (fit together like puzzle pieces)

15. Continental Drift was proven by:
Certain fossils are on different continents
Example: Mesosaurus – reptile that lived about 270 mya, fossils found only in parts of South America and Africa – could have only happened when the 2 continents were once joined).

16. Continental Drift was proven by:
Mountain chains found on 2 continents and would have matched up if the continents were joined.
Example: Appalachian Mountains – run along the eastern coast of US and through Great Britain.

17. Pangaea – the giant supercontinent that existed about 200 mya.

19. TYPES OF PLATE BOUNDARIES
There are 3 main types of plate boundaries:
Divergent Boundary,
Convergent Boundary, and
Transform Boundary

21. Divergent Boundary

22. Divergent Boundary Plates are moving apart
Occurs at Mid-ocean Ridges and at Rift Valleys (seafloor spreading)
Rift valley = deep valleys at the center of a mid-ocean ridge.
Volcanic activity (underwater) and earthquakes take place along this boundary.
Hot springs also come up from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor.

23. Divergent Boundary
Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Atlantic Ocean)

24. Divergent Boundary East Pacific Rise (Pacific Ocean)
Transform faults run along the mid-ocean ridges

25. Convergent Boundary Plates are moving toward each other.
2 Types of Convergent Boundaries
Subduction
Collision

26. Convergent Boundary Subduction occurs at:
ocean to ocean plate moving toward each other
Ocean to continental plates moving toward each other
Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, so oceanic crust will subduct underneath the continental plate
Deep sea trenches are formed
Volcanic island arcs are formed
Earthquakes occur

27. Convergent Boundary - Subduction
Islands of Indonesia (ocean to ocean)
Mariana Islands (ocean to ocean)
Mariana Trench (Pacific plate moving underneath the Philippine Plate)

28. Convergent Boundary - Subduction
Mariana Islands –
Philippine and Pacific plates colliding (ocean to ocean)

29. Convergent Boundary Collision Boundary occurs at:
Continental to continental plate moving towards each other
Builds high mountain chains
Earthquakes occur along these boundaries

30. Convergent Boundary - Collision

31. Convergent Boundary - Collision
Our Appalachian Mountains were also formed this way long ago, but are not currently being formed. (rounded mountain tops – been weathered and eroded down)

32. Convergent Boundary - Collision
Himalaya Mountains (sharp and jagged peaks)

33. Transform Boundary 2 plates are sliding past each other.
Earthquake activity occurs here

34. Transform Boundary San Andreas Fault (in California)
Movement isn’t the same along all parts of the fault. Some parts can move up to 5cm/yr, while others haven’t moved in over a century.
North Anatolian Fault (in Turkey)
Fracture zones along mid-ocean ridges