Plate tectonics overview powerpoint

http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/ Where are the Earth’s tectonic plates and their boundaries? What happens at plate boundaries? How Earth scientists classify plate boundaries? Part Identify the patterns of your area of expertise – volcanology, seismology, geography, geochronology - AT PLATE BOUNDARIES  Describe what you observe – not interpret what you see, just describe the patterns  Wide or narrow, straight or curved, symmetric or not symmetric, deep or shallow, ridge or valley, active or inactive  Identify 3-5 boundary types; color each on your transparency; define in words  Part  Bring together areas of expertise – volcanology, seismology, geography, geochronology  Correlate your data sets; what collective patterns emerge?  Identify 3-5 boundary types; color each on a master transparency; define in words Part  Describe the different types of boundaries  What patterns were related in the different data sets? Plate Boundaries Where Stuff Happens Plate Tectonics • The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that move away, toward, and along each other • Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate boundaries in DISTINCT patterns Compositional Physical / Mechanical Convergent Boundaries (b) Ocean-ocean convergence •Volcanos tightly spaced, parallel boundary, arc •Shallow to deep earthquakes •Age varies on one side of the boundary; not symmetrical •Trench, volcanic island chain •Rocks? Mariana Islands Marianas Trench e n i p ip Phil e Plat Pacif i c P la te Eurasian Plate Indian Plate Himalaya Mountains Tibetan Plateau Himalayan Mtns Mt Everest Convergent Boundaries (c) Continent-continent convergence •Volcanos rare, dispersed •Shallow (to medium) dispersed earthquakes •No age data •High mountain chain •Rocks? Himalayan Mountains te a l P n a i l a str u A n a i d n I Tibetan Plateau Eurasian Plate Transform-Fault Boundaries •Volcanos dispersed, most on one side •Earthquakes complex, shallow (to medium) on both sides •Age data not symmetrical, one side of boundary •Complex topography, wide mountains and basins •Rocks? te a l P c i Pacif North Ameri can Pl a te Plate Tectonics • The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that move away, toward, and along each other • Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate boundaries in DISTINCT patterns What’s Driving Plate Tectonics on Earth? It’s all about convection and heat (loss)! Vigorous convection drives plate tectonics And for the rest of the week …  What features you expect to see on other planets if plate tectonics processes are active?  What does this tell you about the interior of the planet?  What skills did you use in undertaking this activity?  Historical use …  How might you use it in your classroom?  What might you modify? [...]... 1 Divergent Boundaries •Volcanic activity in fissures, some volcanos •Shallow earthquakes, on plate boundary •Young crust, symmetrical around boundary •Ridge •Rocks? MidAtlantic Ridge an c i r e m A th Nor Plate Eur as i a n Pl a te Nazca Plate South American Plate Antarctic Plate Andes Mountains 2 Convergent Boundaries (a) Ocean-continent convergence •Volcanos tight, parallel boundary,... I Tibetan Plateau Eurasian Plate 3 Transform-Fault Boundaries •Volcanos dispersed, most on one side •Earthquakes complex, shallow (to medium) on both sides •Age data not symmetrical, one side of boundary •Complex topography, wide mountains and basins •Rocks? te a l P c i Pacif North Ameri can Pl a te Plate Tectonics • The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that... (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that move away, toward, and along each other • Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate boundaries in DISTINCT patterns What’s Driving Plate Tectonics on Earth? It’s all about convection and heat (loss)! Vigorous convection drives plate tectonics ... c Naz South American Plate 2 Convergent Boundaries (b) Ocean-ocean convergence •Volcanos tightly spaced, parallel boundary, arc •Shallow to deep earthquakes •Age varies on one side of the boundary; not symmetrical •Trench, volcanic island chain •Rocks? Mariana Islands Marianas Trench e n i p ip Phil e Plat Pacif i c P la te Eurasian Plate Indian Plate Himalaya Mountains Tibetan Plateau Himalayan Mtns