Plate Tectonics Bob Leighty GLG 101 - Physical Geology.

GLG 101 - Physical GeologyGLG 101 - Physical Geology Bob LeightyBob Leighty

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

These notes and web links are your primary “lecture” content in this class. Additionally, various articles are assigned each week to supplement this “lecture” information. I believe you’ll have enough information to reference without having to purchase a costly textbook. These lecture notes are very similar to the ones I use in my traditional classes. You’ll find they are loaded with imagery and streamlined text that highlight the most essential terms and concepts. The notes provide a framework for learning and, by themselves, are not meant to be a comprehensive source of information.To take advantage of the global knowledge base known as the Internet, I have included numerous hyperlinks to external web sites (like the Wikipedia, USGS, NASA, etc.). Follow the links and scan them for relevant info. The information from linked web sites is meant to supplement and reinforce the lecture notes – you won’t be responsible for knowing everything contained in them.

As a distance learning student, you need to explore and understand the content more independently than in a traditional class. As always, I will help guide you through this learning adventure. Remember, email Dr. Bob if you have any questions about today’s lecture ([email protected]).Leave no questions behind!Explore and have fun!Explore and have fun!

Seismic waves tell us about the Earth's tectonic platesTectonic PlatesTectonic PlatesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Earthquake foci help map geometry of tectonic plates

Tectonic PlatesTectonic PlatesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Tectonic plates interact with each other at their boundaries (and cause earthquakes and volcanoes)

Earth’s outer layer is divided into many strong, moving lithospheric plates

Tectonic PlatesTectonic PlatesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Lithosphere = Crust + rigid upper mantle Asthenosphere = a weaker mantle layer beneath the

lithosphere

Tectonic PlatesTectonic PlatesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Mantle convection slab-pull & ridge-push

Why Do the Plates Move?Why Do the Plates Move?Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Internal Heat & GravityInternal Heat & Gravity

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Plates collide

Continent-ContinentContinent-Continent Shallow focus earthquakes Minimal volcanism Large mountain ranges

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Continent-ContinentContinent-Continent

Shallow focus EQs Little volcanism

Himalayas

Ocean-ContinentOcean-Continent

Continental volcanic arc

Shallow to deep focusearthquakes (subduction zone)

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Ocean-ContinentOcean-Continent

AndesCascades

Ocean-OceanOcean-Ocean Shallow to deep focus

earthquakes (subduction zone) Island volcanic arc

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Convergent Plate BoundariesConvergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Ocean-OceanOcean-Ocean

Japan Aleutians

Divergent Plate BoundariesDivergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Plates move apart

Divergent Plate BoundariesDivergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Mid-Ocean RidgeMid-Ocean Ridge

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Shallow focus earthquakes Basaltic rift volcanism

Divergent Plate BoundariesDivergent Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Continental RiftContinental Rift

East Africa Rift

Transform Plate BoundariesTransform Plate BoundariesPlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

Minimal volcanism

Plates slide by each other Shallow-focus earthquakes

San Andreas Fault

Intraplate “Hotspots”Intraplate “Hotspots”Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

OceanicOceanic

Shallow-focus earthquakes Basaltic volcanism

Hawaiian Islands - Emperor Seamounts

Plate moves over a mantle plume

Intraplate “Hotspots”Intraplate “Hotspots”Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

ContinentalContinental

Yellowstone

WWW Links in this LectureWWW Links in this Lecture> Seismic waves - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seismic_wave> Plate tectonics - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics> Tectonic plate boundaries - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics#Types_of_plate_boundaries> Lithosphere - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithosphere> Asthenosphere - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthenosphere> Mantle convection - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_convection> Driving forces of plate motion - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics#Driving_forces_of_plate_motion

> Convergent plate boundary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_Plate_Boundary> Himalayas - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayas> Subduction zone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subduction> Volcanic arc - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_arc> Andes - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andes> Cascades - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cascade_Range> Japanese Islands - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Japan> Aleutian Islands - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands

Plate TectonicsPlate Tectonics

> Divergent boundary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergent_boundary> Mid-Atlantic ridge - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Atlantic_Ridge > Continental rift - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rift_valley > East African Rift - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rift_Valley > Transform boundary - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transform_boundary> San Andreas fault - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Andreas_Fault> Hot spot - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotspot_%28geology%29> Mantle plume - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_plume> Yellowstone - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowstone_National_Park

WWW Links in this LectureWWW Links in this LecturePlate TectonicsPlate Tectonics