Plate_Tectonics

Plate Tectonics Paper #1 Plate Tectonics is a theory proposed and accepted by scientists to explain the nature of earth’s surface characteristics and oceanic and continental makeup. Plate Tectonics divides the earth’s surface into separate sections known as lithospheric plates. These lithospheric plates are composed of the hard rigid outer crust of the earth which “float” on top of the hot more pliable asthenospheric layer. The heating of the asthenospheric layer by the lower mantle results in density changes causing a current type rotational motion which in turn drags the above plates. This motion and the floating attribute of the lithospheric plates gives rise to the earth’s changing surface and oceanic floor features. The behavior of the plates at their intersecting boundaries yields distinct geographical features dependent upon their composition and direction of movement. Divergent, convergent, and transverse are the three main labels associated with plate interactions at their boundaries. Divergent action results when plates are being pulled away from one another forming rifts and splitting open surfaces. Convergent movement results when plates collide and push together resulting in buckling and overall shortening. Transform boundaries result when two plates slide alongside each other creating fault lines plate, oceanic, continental, plates, volcanoes, trenches, results, boundaries, tectonics, ring, pacific, ocean, unique, thru, surface, result, layer, fire, convergent, subduction, resulting, mantle, lithospheric, linear, large, geographical, extreme, earth’s, divergent, deeper, deep, volcanic, upward, upon