Read without ads and support Scribd by becoming a Scribd Premium Reader.
See Premium Plans
 
Plate Tectonics
The Mechanism
The main features of plate tectonics are:
•
The Earth's surface is covered by a seriesof crustal plates.
•
The ocean floors are continually moving,spreading from the center, sinking at theedges, and being regenerated.
•
Convection currents beneath the platesmove the crustal plates in differentdirections.
•
The source of heat driving the convection currents is radioactivity deep in the Earths mantle.Advances in sonic depth recording during World War II and the subsequent development of the nuclear resonance type magnometer (proton-precession magnometer) led to detailed mapping of the ocean floor andwith it came many observation that led scientists like Howard Hess and R. Deitz to reviveHolmes' convection theory. Hess and Deitz modified the theory considerably and called the new theory "Sea-floor Spreading". Among the seafloor features that supported the sea-floor spreading hypothesis were: mid-oceanic ridges, deep sea trenches, island arcs, geomagnetic patterns, and fault patterns.
Mid-Oceanic Ridges
 The mid-oceanic ridges rise 3000 meters from the ocean floor and are more than 2000 kilometers widesurpassing the Himalayas in size. The mapping of the seafloor also revealed that these huge underwater mountain ranges have a deep trench which bisects the length of the ridges and in places is more than 2000meters deep. Research into the heat flow from the ocean floor during the early 1960s revealed that thegreatest heat flow was centered at the crests of these mid-oceanic ridges. Seismic studies show that the mid-oceanic ridges experience an elevated number of earthquakes. All these observations indicate intensegeological activity at the mid-oceanic ridges.
Geomagnetic Anomalies
 Occasionally, at random intervals, the Earth's magnetic field reverses. New rock formed from magmarecords the orientation of Earth's magnetic field at the time the magma cools. Study of the sea floor withmagnometers revealed "stripes" of alternating magnetization parallel to the mid-oceanic ridges. This is
 
evidence for continuous formation of new rock at the ridges. As more rock forms, older rock is pushedfarther away from the ridge, producing symmetrical stripes to either side of the ridge. In the diagram to theright, the dark stripes represent ocean floor generated during "reversed" polar orientation and the lighter stripes represent the polar orientation we have today. Notice that the patterns on either side of the linerepresenting the mid-oceanic ridge are mirror images of one another. The shaded stripes also represent older and older rock as they move away from the mid-oceanic ridge. Geologists have determined that rocks foundin different parts of the planet with similar ages have the same magnetic characteristics.
Deep Sea Trenches
 The deepest waters are found in oceanic trenches, which plunge as deep as 35,000 feet below the oceansurface. These trenches are usually long and narrow, and run parallel to and near the oceans margins. Theyare often associated with and parallel to large continental mountain ranges. There is also an observed parallel association of trenches and island arcs. Like the mid-oceanic ridges, the trenches are seismicallyactive, but unlike the ridges they have low levels of heat flow. Scientists also began to realize that theyoungest regions of the ocean floor were along the mid-oceanic ridges, and that the age of the ocean floor increased as the distance from the ridges increased. In addition, it has been determined that the oldestseafloor often ends in the deep-sea trenches.
Island Arcs
 Chains of islands are found throughout the oceans and especially in the western Pacific margins; theAleutians, Kuriles, Japan, Ryukus, Philippines, Marianas, Indonesia, Solomons, New Hebrides, and theTongas, are some examples.. These "Island arcs" are usually situated along deep sea trenches and aresituated on the continental side of the trench.These observations, along with many other studies of our planet, support the theory that underneath theEarth's crust (the lithosphere: a solid array of plates) is a malleable layer of heated rock known as theasthenosphere which is heated by radioactive decay of elements such as Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium.Because the radioactive source of heat is deep within the mantle, the fluid asthenosphere circulates asconvection currents underneath the solid lithosphere. This heated layer is the source of lava we see in
 
volcanos, the source of heat that driveshot springs and geysers, and the sourceof raw material which pushes up themid-oceanic ridges and forms newocean floor. Magma continuously wellsupwards at the mid-oceanic ridges(arrows) producing currents of magmaflowing in opposite directions and thusgenerating the forces that pull the seafloor apart at the mid-oceanic ridges. Asthe ocean floor is spread apart cracksappear in the middle of the ridgesallowing molten magma to surfacethrough the cracks to form the newestocean floor. As the ocean floor movesaway from the mid-oceanic ridge it will eventually come into contact with a continental plate and will besubducted underneath the continent. Finally, the lithosphere will be driven back into the asthenospherewhere it returns to a heated state.The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock or into metamorphicrock. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock or into igneous rock. Metamorphic rock canchange into igneous or sedimentary rock.Igneous rock forms when magma cools and makes crystals. Magma is a hot liquid made of melted minerals.The minerals can form crystals when they cool. Igneous rock can form underground, where the magmacools slowly. Or, igneous rock can form above ground, where the magma cools quickly.When it pours out on Earth's surface, magma is called lava. Yes, the same liquid rock matter that you seecoming out of volcanoes.On Earth's surface, wind and water can break rock into pieces. They can also carry rock pieces to another  place. Usually, the rock pieces, called sediments, drop from the wind or water to make a layer. The layer can be buried under other layers of sediments. After a long time the sediments can be cemented together tomake sedimentary rock. In this way, igneous rock can become sedimentary rock.All rock can be heated. But where does the heat come from? Inside Earth there is heat from pressure (pushyour hands together very hard and feel the heat). There is heat from friction (rub your hands together and
Search
Search History:
Searching...
Result 00 of 00
00 results for result for
  • p.
    • Notes
    Load more