Project 5 (Geology)

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The Theory of Plate Tectonics Geology 100 7381 Bernardo J. Abreu 25 APR 2023

The Theory of Plate Tectonics is the idea that the lithosphere is divided into several large, movable plates that float on the asthenosphere, the layer below the lithosphere (Chapter 1: Introduction to Geology) . Over a span of approximately 3.4 billion years, these tectonic plates have been slowly moving. In the following essay, I will provide an overview of the Theory of Plate Tectonics, highlight significant contributors of the theory, describe the initial super- continent and super-ocean, explain the different types of plate boundaries and resulting features, and highlight the various pieces of evidence supporting the idea of plate tectonics. The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains how the Earth's lithosphere, made up of large plates, moves in relation to each other. These plates can be composed of continental or oceanic crust, or a mix of both. The movement of these plates is driven by convection currents in the mantle, causing them to either move apart (divergent boundaries), move towards each other (convergent boundaries), or slide past each other (transform boundaries). When these plates collide, they create geological features like earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and trenches . (Chapter 1.5: Fundamentals of Plate Tectonics). The Theory of Plate Tectonics has been shaped by the contributions of several notable scientists over the years. In the early 20th century, Alfred Wegener proposed the idea of continental drift, suggesting that the continents were once joined together as a supercontinent called Pangaea and had moved apart over time (Alfred Wegener, 2001). This concept was further developed by Harry Hess in the 1960s, who introduced the concept of seafloor spreading, explaining how new oceanic crust is continuously formed at mid-Atlantic ridges and pushes the continents apart (Chapter 10.3 Geological Renaissance of the Mid-20th Century) . Other important scientists like John Tuzo Wilson also made significant contributions, proposing the concept of transform faults where plates slide past each other horizontally. These ideas

revolutionized our understanding of the Earth's structure and dynamics, leading to the development of the Theory of Plate Tectonics. This theory explains how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into large plates that move relative to each other, resulting in geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges (The Geological Society, 2019) . The initial super-continent, Pangaea, is believed to have existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, approximately 300 million years ago. Pangaea was a massive landmass that incorporated nearly all of Earth's present-day continents, and its breakup resulted in the formation of the modern continents we see today (10.4 Plate, Plate Motions, and Plate Boundary Processes). The initial super-ocean, Panthalassa, surrounded Pangaea and covered a significant portion of the Earth's surface (Chapter 21: Geological History of Western Canada, Figure 23.3.3). There are three main types of plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform. At divergent boundaries, plates move apart, leading to the creation of new crust and the formation of features like mid-Atlantic ridges and rift valleys. At convergent boundaries, plates move towards each other and can either collide, forming mountain ranges, or one plate can be pushed beneath the other, creating trenches and volcanic arcs. At transform boundaries, plates slide past each other horizontally, resulting in features like strike-slip faults. These interactions between plates shape the Earth's surface and contribute to various geological phenomena. (12.3 Fracturing and Faulting). There is a wide range of evidence supporting the idea of plate tectonics. One significant piece of evidence is the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes along plate boundaries. Most earthquakes and volcanic activities occur along plate boundaries, which supports the idea that

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plates are moving and interacting with each other. Additionally, the magnetic striping found on the seafloor, discovered by geophysicists in the 1960s, provides evidence for seafloor spreading and the movement of tectonic plates (National Geographic, n.d.) The Theory of Plate Tectonics is a well-accepted scientific concept that helps us understand how the Earth's lithosphere, composed of large, solid plates, moves and interacts with each other in the underlying asthenosphere. These plates shift and interact at their edges, giving rise to a variety of geologic events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and the formation of ocean basins.

References: Alfred Wegener . (2001, February 8). Nasa.gov; NASA Earth Observatory. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/Wegener Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 1: Introduction to Geology., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 1.5: Fundamentals of Plate Tectonics., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 10.3 Geological Renaissance of the Mid-20th Century., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 10.4 Plate, Plate Motions, and Plate Boundary Processes., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 12.3 Fracturing and Faulting., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. Earle, S., Panchuk, K., Chapter 21: Geological History of Western Canada, Figure 23.3.3., Bc Open Textbook Project, & Bccampus. (2015). Physical geology. Bccampus, Bc Open Textbook Project. National Geographic. (n.d.). Continental Drift versus Plate Tectonics | National Geographic Society . Education.nationalgeographic.org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/continental-drift-versus-plate-tectonics/

The Geological Society . (2019). Geolsoc.org.uk. https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate- Tectonics/Chap1-Pioneers-of-Plate-Tectonics/John-Tuzo-Wilson

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