Nov 05, 2018 primitive plate tectonics in the context of presentday plate tectonics on earth. According to the theory, earth has a rigid outer layer, known as the lithosphere, which is typically about 100 km 60 miles thick and overlies a plastic moldable, partially molten layer called the asthenosphere. Plate tectonics is an earth sciences topic that attracts a good deal of interest, given that it a topic very often featured in popular science programmes on tv and radio. Plate tectonic theory both hesss discovery and wegners continental drift theory combined into what scientists now call the plate tectonic theory. The ocean basins cover the largest area of the earths surface.
Nelson tulane university basaltic and gabbroic rocks although basaltic and gabbroic rocks are found in nearly all tectonic settings, they are the predominant igneous rock types of the ocean basins. Takehome messages earths geology is dominated by the processes of plate tectonics. But learning about it during the last 40 years has given scientists many theoretical tools to understand other planets, even those that circle other stars. Department of earth and environmental sciences tectonics encompasses the processes of largescale deformation and the formation of structures that define, or are association with, earths tectonic plate boundaries. Topic 5 plate tectonics university of southern california. Earths history should include pre plate tectonic and plate tectonic phases beginning less than a billion years ago, according to a team of geoscientists in the journal geology. The theory of plate tectonics key concepts what is the theory of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics historical foundations plate tectonics is a paradigm developed recently 1960s to explain many aspects of earth or any planetary dynamics volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain building, etc.
In 1965, john tuzo wilson used the ideas of seafloor spreading and continental drift to propose his theory of plate tectonics and also introduce the idea of transform faults history of oceanography. The lithosphere lithosphere is comprised of the upper mantle and the crust, the outer shell of the earth. When two continental plates collide, neither plate is subducted, and form. This list of research frontiers and grand challenges is an outstanding resource to use when designing a. The theory of plate tectonics explains why earthquakes and occur in certain locations. Plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other. For the rest of us, plate tectonics is a simple theory that helps make sense of the earths face. Contributions to mineralogy and petrology 64, 205221. Plate convergence vectors referenced from united states geological survey. Plate tectonics is the theory that explains the global distribution of geological phenomena.
This lecture is designed to give you a general overview of how igneous rocks are related to tectonic setting. A discussion of petrography includes major element composition, calcalkaline trends in ternary diagrams, trace element variations, isotopes to distinguish magma sources, and the origin of igneous rocks at convergent margins. The earths crust and part of the upper mantle are broken into sections, called plates which move on a plasticlike layer of the mantle. After harry hess discovery of seafloor spreading, dan mckenzie used this discovery, along with wegeners original theory of continental drift to write the current theory of plate tectonics. Active subduction is taking place, along these convergent plate boundaries, as evidenced by the zone of earthquakes, called a benioff zone, that. It includes the crust and the top part of the mantle. This magmatism is responsible for producing oceanic crust at divergent plate boundaries. Gather, analyze, and communicate data that explains earths plates, plate motions, and the results of plate motions dok 12 d. Tuzo wilson offered a fundamental reinterpretation of wegeners continental drift theory and became the first person to use the term plates to describe the division and pattern of relative movement. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics.
What is tectonic plates and plate tectonics tectonic plates giant jigsawlike pieces of the earths crust. Crust is continuously being regenerated and removed. Nelson1, department of geology, tulane university, provides lecture notes on global tectonics2 for a physical geology course3. Pdf versions of all lecture powerpoints will be posted on. Frank taylor first proposed this idea in 1910, alexander du toit later in 1937, harry hess explored the geomorphology of the seafloor by ship in 1960s. Geology 111 lecture notes vancouver island university.
Rick johnson, instructional consultation, university of california, santa barbara, santa barbara, ca 93106. The theory of plate tectonics also provides an explanation for why earthquakes and volcanoes occur in different places. Gsa annual meeting in indianapolis, indiana, usa 2018. In addition to the accepted roles of plate tectonics in regulating planetary habitability through the composition of the atmosphere and temperature, and creating continents to enhance landbased evolution and biodiversity, it has a hitherto unexplored role in influencing surface mineralogy with possible implications for early evolution. Igneous rocks of the convergent margins tulane university. Tulane university structural geology tulane university getting the books structural geology tulane university now is not type of inspiring means. Create a timeline of the events leading to the theory of plate tectonics. The lithosphere is broken up into seven very large continental and oceansized plates, six or seven mediumsized. Students gather evidence to explain the theory of plate tectonics. Lecture 3 plate tectonics ii what students are saying as a current student on this bumpy collegiate pathway, i stumbled upon course hero, where i can find study resources for nearly all my courses, get online help from tutors 247, and even share my old projects, papers, and lecture notes with other students. Principally it refers to the movement and interaction of the earths lithosphere. Nelson continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate. Atwater, tanya, continental drift and plate tectonics, 20 minutes videotape, 1988.
Earths lithosphere is broken into separate sections called plates. Origins of plate tectonic theory earth science visionlearning. You could not isolated going later than book stock or library or borrowing from your connections to entre them. When an oceanic plate slides under a continental plate, a deep ocean forms. Received 27 september 2012 received in revised form 30. Plate tectonics plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and revolutionized geology cornerstone of earthsystem approach. The plates float on the earths mantle and are constantly moving at a very slow rate. Between the years 1965 and 1967, various papers were published that helped define and establish the theory of plate tectonics plate tectonics. Volcanic landforms are controlled by the geological processes that form them and act on them after they have formed. This includes the formation, movement, collision and destruction of plates and the resulting geological events such as seismicity, volcanism, continental drift, and. Using the online resources at the earthquakes living lab, students examine information and gather evidence supporting the theory. Since the development of the theory, geologists have had to reexamine almost every aspect of geology. Section2 the theory of plate tectonics chapter 10 plate tectonics key ideas the lithosphere is hard.
This is an no question easy means to specifically acquire lead by online. The impact of plate tectonics is studied closely as these processes continue. When two oceanic plates collide, a trench and an form. Lecture 3 plate tectonics ii what students are saying as a current student on this bumpy collegiate pathway, i stumbled upon course hero, where i can find study resources for nearly all my courses, get online help from tutors 247, and even share my old projects. The theory of continental drift was the first step toward plate tectonic theory, which became the foundation upon which modern geology is built. Department of earth and environmental sciences university office of the registrar 110 gibson hall 6823 st. Since the development of the plate tectonics theory, geologists have had to. Plate tectonics has proven to be so useful that it can predict geologic events and explain almost all aspects of what we see on the earth. Most geophysicists opposed the hypothesis of plate tectonics in the early 1900s, even as late as the 1960s.
Working in pairs, students think like engineers and connect what they. Thus, a given volcanic landform will be characteristic of the types of. The theory of plate tectonics explains the relative movement of crustal plates that are juxtaposed with each other to form an interlocking pattern of plate boundaries, oceanic trenches, mountain ranges, etc. The theory has caused a revolution in the way we think about the earth. Strain builds up along plate boundaries, and when the strain becomes too great, fractures form and. Ultrabasic magma and highdegree melting of the mantle. Convection currents rise in the asthenosphere and spread out beneath the lithosphere, causing the movement of earths plates. Plate tectonics, our major paradigm for how the earth works, was established in the 1960ies following decades of observational research that culminated in key discoveries such as geomagnetic. The concept of plate tectonics was formulated in the 1960s.
By linking these observations to hesss seafloor spreading model, they lay the foundation for modern plate tectonics. The earth surface has continuously been changing ever since it was formed, especially regarding the geomorphological and geological phenomena. Nelson continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics plate tectonics is a theory developed in the late 1960s, to explain how the outer layers of the earth move and deform. Lectures prior to the lab should have covered the basics of plate tectonics, including the different types of plate boundaries. Authors personal copy a planetary perspective on earth evolution. Tulane university petrology lecture notes collection.
The theory of plate tectonics explains the formation, movement, and subduction of earths plates. Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into 12 major plates which are moved in various directions. This theory states that the earths lithosphere crust is broken into plates, which are constantly. Thus, a given volcanic landform will be characteristic of the types of material it is made of, which in turn. Since the theory of plate tectonics was first introduced, how far has the tectonic plate were standing on moved. How the activity is situated in the course this is a standalone exercise typically given near the beginning of the course in either discussion or lab section. Furthermore, basaltic and gabbroic rocks of the ocean basins represent magmas that have the least likelihood of being contaminated with. This module describes how the work of alfred wegener, harry hess, and others led to our understanding of plate tectonics.
A large number of new figures have been added, and new sections included on meteorites, seismic tomography, mantle convection, accretionary terranes, mantle sources and evolution, continental growth, secular changes in earth history, also a new chapter on exogenic. In this course, we will not consider in detail the origin of the various rock types and volcanic rock types will be emphasized over plutonic rock types. As you read each paragraph, take notes about the key ideas in the. Because of plate tectonics, however, most oceanic lithosphere eventually is. The lithosphere lithosphere is comprised of the upper mantle and the. Plate tectonics eens 1110 physical geology tulane university prof. The earth is composed of layers of different composition and physical properties, principally the solid central core, the fluid peripheral core, the viscous mantle, and the solid. Tectonic plates plate boundary referenced from bird, peter 2003 an updated digital model of plate boundaries. Plate movement is driven by convection in earths mantle. This substantially revised edition includes recently published information relating to plate tectonics and continental origin. Earth structure, materials, systems, and cycles tulane university. This set of lecture notes discusses the occurrence and tectonic settings of igneous rocks near convergent plate margins.
These boundaries are places where two plates are pushing toward, pulling away, or sliding past each other. Tectonic plates california institute of technology. For a time frame up to 100,000,000 years, plate tectonics has determined the type of margin that developed and controlled sedimentation. Piper geomagnetism laboratory, geology and geophysics, school of environmental sciences, university of liverpool, liverpool l69 7ze, uk article info abstract article history. Because seismic waves reflect from and refract through boundaries where. The pdf portable document format versions of the lecture notes are optimized for printing. Because different types of mineral deposits form in different environments, plate tectonics plays a critical role in the location of different geological. It explains plate tectonics as the driving force behind ongoing changes on earth. In this very short introduction peter molnar provides a succinct and authoritative account of the nature and mechanisms of plate tectonics and its impact on our understanding of earth. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features. This laboratory is designed to help students understand the basic mechanics of how the plates move. The course will include the historical development and testing of plate tectonic hypotheses, as well as a detailed overview of plate tectonics as a current unifying theory.
Plate tectonics, surface mineralogy, and the early. Plate tectonics pdf file ch 5 minerals pdf file ch 6 igneous rocks. Plasienka geological institute, slovak academy of sciences, slovakia keywords. View notes pltect from eens 1110 at tulane university. They also look at how volcanoes and earthquakes are explained by tectonic plate movement, and how engineers use this information. Use webbased or other technology tools to show connections and patterns in data about tectonic plate boundaries and earthquakes. Earths crust and upper mantle are divided into plates. Describe some of the events and pieces of evidence that led to the theory of plate tectonics. Convergence data are shown by arrows describing direction and speed, relative to the plate across the boundary. When plates collide, separate, or slide past each other along a plate boundary, stress builds. Volcanic landforms are controlled by the geological processes that. Nelson volcanic landforms, volcanoes and plate tectonics volcanic landforms volcanic landforms are controlled by the geological processes that form them and act on them after they have formed. The theory of plate tectonics helps explain this pattern because the earthquake and volcano belts mark the locations of plate boundaries.
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