SPHERES OF THE

EARTH
• The Earth has 4
spheres:
2. ATMOSPHERE
3. HYDROSPHERE
4. LITHOSPHERE
5. BIOSPHERE
EARTH’S
The outer shell of the
INTERIOR Earth is called the
• CRUST
The next layer is
called the MANTLE
• The next layer is the
liquid OUTER CORE
• The middle bit is
called the solid
• INNER CORE
CONTINENTAL DRIFT
THEORY
EARTH -
PLATES
 PLATES

• The Earth's surface is made up of a series of

large plates (like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle).
• These plates are in constant motion travelling
at a few centimetres per year.
• Plates 'float' on the molten rock magma. As the
core of the Earth heats up the materials inside,
the molten magma also gets heated up. The heat
causes convection currents, a movement of rising
and sinking caused by heat, inside the molten
magma.
 PLATE MARGINS

• The place where two plates meet is known as plate

margin/ boundary.
• There are 3 types of plate margins/ movements:
3. Diverging Plate Margin
4. Converging Plate Margin
 DIVERGING PLATE MOVEMENTS
• Places where plates are coming
apart are called divergent
boundaries.
• when Earth's brittle surface
layer (the lithosphere) is pulled
apart, it typically breaks along
parallel faults that tilt slightly
outward from each other.
• Magma (liquid rock) seeps upward
to fill the cracks. In this way,
new crust is formed along the
boundary.
• Earthquakes occur along the
faults, and volcanoes form where
the magma reaches the surface.
• For example, divergence along
the Mid Atlantic ridge causes
the Atlantic Ocean to widen at
CONVERGING PLATE
When two plates move towards
MOVEMENTS •
each other, they would collide.
This is called a convergent plate
movement.
• As the plates collide, some crust
is destroyed due to the impact,
therefore this convergent
boundary is also called a
destructive boundary.
• Examples:
4. the collision between the
Eurasian Plate and the
Indian Plate which is forming
the Himalayas.
5. subduction of the Nazca Plate
beneath the
South American Plate to form
.
WHEN TWO CONTINENTAL
PLATES CONVERGE
 WHEN AN OCEANIC &
CONTINENTAL PLATES
CONVERGE
WHEN TWO OCEANIC
PLATES
CONVERGE
 CONSERVATIVE PLATE
MOVEMENT
• A transform plate
movement is one where
two plates slide laterally
past each other.
• This movement is not
smooth due to friction
between the rocks of
the two plates.
• When there is
sufficient buildup of
pressure, rocks in the
plates break and get
jerked apart. This
results in earthquakes.
HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH
PLATES
• Most
EARTHQUAKES and
VOLCANIC
ERUPTIONS occur
in specific areas,
such as along plate
boundaries.
EARTHQUAKES
EARTHQUAKE ZONES OF THE
WORLD
EFFECTS OF
EARTHQUAKES• Negative effects of
earthquakes:
• Tremendous loss of life.
• Loss of property.
Collapse of transport –
• roads, railways, ports,
bridges.
• Fire, landslides, floods.
• Blocked roads
Facilities disrupted –
electricity, water,
• medical. • Tsunamis
VOLCANO
• A Volcano is an opening or
rupture on the Earth’s Surface
which allows magma, rocks,
gases etc. to come out from
below the surface.

• Causes of Volcanic activity:

d) Diverging plates
e) Converging plates
f) Hot Spots
g) Faults

• Important Terms:
• Vent and Fumeroles
• Crater
• Pyroclastic material
• Lava flow
• Magma Chamber
• Cone shaped hill
 TYPES OF MATERIAL - VOLCANO
Three types of materials are ejected out of a Volcano:
• SOLIDS: ash particles (< 2mm in size); Lapilli (2 – 64mm in
size); Volcanic bombs (>64 mm in size)
• LIQUIDS: Molten material – Magma, Hot water from
geysers and hot springs.
• GASES: Water-vapour, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride,
 TYPES OF
On VOLCANOES
• the basis of frequency: On the basis of shape and
material they are made of:
Active Volcano: which Shield Volcano: Gentle slopes,
erupt
• frequently & can
basaltic lava, low viscosity. Eg. Mt.
erupt any time. Eg. Mt.
Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Mauna Loa, Hawaii
Dormant Volcano: Cinder Volcano: Steep slopes, >
which
• have erupted in 300 meters in height, made
history but have not
of pyroclastic material. Eg. Mt.
erupted since then. Eg. Mt.
Rainier, USA Paracutin, Mexico
Extinct Volcano: which may Composite / Strato Volcano:
have erupted earlier but is Steep upper slopes & then
•
now almost dead (>1000E
l, e t a
lava & ash. Eg. Mt. Vesuvius,
 TYPES OF
ERUPTIONS
• There are five major
types of eruptions:
c) Hawaiian
d) Strombolian
e) Vulcanian
f) Pelean
g) Plinian
TYPES OF
ERUPTIONS
VOLCANIC ZONES OF THE WORLD
 EFFECTS OF VOLCANO

• Positive Effects: • Negative effects

b) Ash add to the soil b) Loss of life
fertility – farming c) Loss of property (economic
c) New minerals loss)
may be d) Air Pollution (ash,
discovered smoke,
e) d) Promotes
Research and e) gases,
Water acid rain etc)
pollution
Tourism
education purposes. f) Lahars (mudflows with
f) Geothermal Energy – water)
renewable energy. g) Earthquakes
h) Increase in temperature
of the area
ZONES OF EARTHQUAKES &
VOCANOES