The Earth is composed of three main layers - the crust, mantle, and core. The crust consists of continental and oceanic plates that move atop the mantle due to convection currents in the core. There are three types of plate boundaries where plates meet: divergent boundaries where plates move apart and new crust is formed, convergent boundaries where plates collide and one is subducted into the mantle, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. The movement of tectonic plates affects geological features on Earth's surface such as volcanoes, mountains, and earthquake activity.
The Earth is composed of three main layers - the crust, mantle, and core. The crust consists of continental and oceanic plates that move atop the mantle due to convection currents in the core. There are three types of plate boundaries where plates meet: divergent boundaries where plates move apart and new crust is formed, convergent boundaries where plates collide and one is subducted into the mantle, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. The movement of tectonic plates affects geological features on Earth's surface such as volcanoes, mountains, and earthquake activity.
The Earth is composed of three main layers - the crust, mantle, and core. The crust consists of continental and oceanic plates that move atop the mantle due to convection currents in the core. There are three types of plate boundaries where plates meet: divergent boundaries where plates move apart and new crust is formed, convergent boundaries where plates collide and one is subducted into the mantle, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. The movement of tectonic plates affects geological features on Earth's surface such as volcanoes, mountains, and earthquake activity.
The Earth is composed of three main layers - the crust, mantle, and core. The crust consists of continental and oceanic plates that move atop the mantle due to convection currents in the core. There are three types of plate boundaries where plates meet: divergent boundaries where plates move apart and new crust is formed, convergent boundaries where plates collide and one is subducted into the mantle, and transform boundaries where plates slide past one another. The movement of tectonic plates affects geological features on Earth's surface such as volcanoes, mountains, and earthquake activity.
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Internal Structure of the Earth.
(Lithosphere)
The Earth is made up of three main layers: crust, core and mantle (Lithosphere).
CRUST- this is the outer shell of the Earth. There are two types of crust: continental crust (sial) and the oceanic crust (sima).
MANTLE- This is found beneath the crust and it is an extremely sticky liquid.
CORE- This is the inner most layer of the Earth.
What is plate tectonics? Plate tectonic is the study of plates which make up the Earth’s crust
and how their movements affect rocks and landforms at the surface. According to scientist
Alfred Wegener, the Earth as one Supercontinent called Pangaea which existed 200 million
years ago. As the years went by the continents began to slowly drift apart in the process
known as ‘continental drift’.
Why plates move?
Plates move because the intense heat in the core causes the magma in the mantle to move
very slowly in giant convection currents: upward, sideways and downward. These
convection currents cause plates of the Earth crust to move. Plates move a few centimetres
per year.
Seven Large plates: Pacific, North America, South America, Eurasian, African, Indo-
Australian, Antarctic.
Types of Plate Boundary.
1. Divergent(constructive plates) – This occurs when two plates move away from each
other in opposite direction and magma moves up from the mantle below. The
movement of magma to the surface can result in volcanic eruptions. When the
magma reaches the surface it forms new crust e.g. the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. If this process happens underwater, it is called sea-floor spreading. When plates move apart
on land rift valleys are formed.
2. Convergent (destructive plates) - This occurs when two plates moves towards each
other such as an oceanic crust and a continental crust. As the oceanic crust (heavy)
moves towards the continental crust (lighter), the heavy oceanic crust is drawn
downwards into the mantle beneath the lighter continental crust. This is known as the
subduction zone. The oceanic crust melts as it moves downwards in the heat of the
mantle. This results in earthquakes, volcanoes (plume of magma rises to the
surface), island arcs and deep ocean trench.
N.B. Collision zones: This occurs when two continental crust moves towards each
other creating a collision zone. This can result in earthquakes. Because the
continental crust cannot sink it is forced upwards to form Fold Mountains e.g.
Himalayan Mountain.
3. Transform (conservative plates) - This occurs when two plates slide past each other.
Crust is neither formed nor destroyed nor is there any volcanic activity. As the plates slide
passes each other, now and then they may ‘stick’ and this builds up pressure causing
earthquakes e.g. San Andreas Fault.
The Caribbean plate and plate boundaries:
The Caribbean was formed by tectonic activities
The eastern Caribbean is an island arc ( chain of volcanic islands)
