plate tectonics

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top Questions
Principles of plate tectonics
- Earth’s layers
- Plate boundaries
  - Divergent margins
    - Continental rifting
    - Seafloor spreading
  - Convergent margins
    - Subduction zones
    - Island arcs
    - Back-arc basins
    - Mountain building
      Mountains by subduction
      Mountains by terrane accretion
      Mountains by continental collision
  - Transform faults
- Hotspots
- Plate motion
  - Euler’s contributions
  - Past plate movements
Development of tectonic theory
- Precursors
- Alfred Wegener and the concept of continental drift
  - Isostasy
  - Driving forces
  - Evidence supporting the hypothesis
  - Disbelief and opposition
- Renewed interest in continental drift
  - Paleomagnetism, polar wandering, and continental drift
  - Gestation and birth of plate-tectonic theory
    - Discovery of ocean basin features
    - Hess’s seafloor-spreading model
    - The Vine-Matthews hypothesis
      Magnetic anomalies
      Reversal of Earth’s magnetic field
- Toward a unifying theory
  - Determination of plate thickness
  - Plate-driving mechanisms and the role of the mantle
    - Mantle convection
    - Seismic tomography
- Dissenting opinions and unanswered questions
  - Dissenters
  - Unanswered questions
Plate tectonics and the geologic past
- Wilson cycle
- Supercontinent cycle
- Continental reconstructions
Interactions of tectonics with other systems
- Oceans
  - Sea level
  - Composition of ocean water
- Life
  - Evolution
  - Extinction
- Climate

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

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How does plate tectonics change Earth's surface?

rift valley in Thingvellir National Park

age of Earth's oceanic crust

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plate tectonics summary

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Photos and Videos

Earth's tectonic plates

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crustal generation and destruction

rift valley in Thingvellir National Park

age of Earth's oceanic crust

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subducting tectonic plate

What is the theory of continental drift?

The types of seismic waves explained

How does plate tectonics change Earth's surface?

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Topics

How Are Mountains Formed?How Do Tectonic Plates Move?earthquake continental drift continent volcanism diastrophism supercontinent cycle paleocontinent supercontinent climate biosphere ecosystem erosion weather seismicity river geography Earth sciences geology

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Key People

J. Tuzo Wilson

Canadian geologist

Walter Alvarez

Walter Alvarez

American geologist

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