ESSAY ABOUT PLATE TECTONICS

Introduction
Plate tectonics refers to movements on Earth’s surface, that is, the lithosphere. This is a
theory in science explaining such movements. The lithosphere is made up of large
broken rock masses also referred as tectonic plates (Oreskes 424). These tectonic
plates are suspended on molten layer of Earth’s crust that comes immediately below the
lithosphere; this layer is called asthenosphere.

Given that the asthenosphere is molten, these plates move on it with ease. The
movement occurs at boundaries namely; transform boundaries, divergent and
convergent boundaries (Oreskes 16). These three different boundaries give rise to the
different forms of plate tectonics known today.

Types of Plate Tectonics

According to United States Geological Survey (USGS), there are three different types of
plate movements; that is, divergent, convergent, and lateral plate slipping resulting from
the three different plate boundaries that exist. Divergent plate movements occur when
two oceanic plate move away from each other to form new oceanic crust at a zone of
divergence. The zone of divergence results as the Earth’s crust separates (Earth
Science). The separation results from hot magma arising from the magma in the
continental mantle. This magma has large pressure that causes the crust to crack and
separate.

Convergent plate movements are the opposite of divergent and it occurs when two
oceanic plates collide leading to loss of crust at a convergent point. Convergent
movements involve collision between two plates and these two plates may be either
continental or oceanic (USGS).

Convergent plate movements come after divergent plate movements because after the
plates break up in the latter, they meet at another point and collide hence the
subduction. On the other hand, lateral slipping occurs when two plates move in opposite
direction slipping over each other at a transform boundary. The two plates eventually
jerk apart due to pressure that mounts up in the mantle and this causes earthquakes
(USGS).
The movement of these plates is facilitated by the fact that they float on the Earth’s
molten magma on the region called asthenosphere, which lies, below lithosphere. As
aforementioned, lithosphere is the outermost Earth’s crust that human beings can
reach. Actually, lithosphere makes the tectonic plates (Rychert and Shearer 496). The
molten magma heats up as the core of the Earth heats up which causes convectional
currents within the molten magma. As the earth core cools, the molten magma cools
and sinks and in the process, it pulls the plates attached to it hence the plate
movement.

Earthquakes results from these plate tectonic movements along fault lines. Fault lines
are cracks on lithosphere. As tectonic plates move, there is building up of pressure
along the fault lines, and when this pressure exceeds the strength of lithosphere,
earthquakes result to relieve the pressure mounting in the lithosphere. According to
Rychert and Shearer, the lateral plate slipping form of movement is the one that causes
many earthquakes around the world (498).

Conclusion
Plate tectonics describes the movement of fragments formed from broken lithosphere.

These fragments are suspended on the asthenosphere, which is molten hence offering
good medium of movement. There are three different types of plate tectonics, that is,
convergent, divergent, and lateral slipping. These movements cause earthquakes as
the lithosphere releases mount up pressure in the Earth’s mantle. Earthquakes result
mainly from lateral slipping moving and this occurs along fault lines, which are weak
points on the lithosphere.
convergent plate boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other. If the two
plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a
mountain chain. If they are of unequal density, one plate usually sinks beneath the
other in a subduction zone. The western coast of South America and the Himalayan
Mountains are convergent plate boundaries. Also called active margin collision
zone See more at tectonic boundary. Compare divergent plate boundary.
A convergent plate boundary is a location where two tectonic plates are moving
toward each other, often causing one plate to slide below the other (in a process
known as subduction). The collision of tectonic plates can result in earthquakes,
volcanoes, the formation of mountains, and other geological events.

The three types, depending on the type of crust present on either side of the
boundary — oceanic or continental. The types are ocean-ocean, ocean-
continent, and continent-continent.

At an ocean-ocean convergent boundary, one of the plates (oceanic crust and

lithospheric mantle) is pushed, or subducted, under the other (Figure 4.6.1).
Often it is the older and colder plate that is denser and subducts beneath the
younger and warmer plate. There is commonly an ocean trench along the
boundary as the crust bends downwards. The
subducted lithosphere descends into the hot mantle at a relatively shallow
angle close to the subduction zone, but at steeper angles farther down (up to
about 45°). The significant volume of water within the subducting material is
released as the subducting crust is heated. It mixes with the overlying mantle,
and the addition of water to the hot mantle lowers the crust’s melting point and
leads to the formation of magma (flux melting). The magma, which is lighter
than the surrounding mantle material, rises through the mantle and the
overlying oceanic crust to the ocean floor where it creates a chain of volcanic
islands known as an island arc. A mature island arc develops into a chain of
relatively large islands (such as Japan or Indonesia) as more and more
volcanic material is extruded and sedimentary rocks accumulate around the
islands. Earthquakes occur relatively deep below the seafloor, where the
subducting crust moves against the overriding crust.