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Understanding Plate Interactions: Shaping Earth's Geography and Climate, Slides of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences

An in-depth exploration of plate tectonics, explaining how plate interactions determine the locations of continents, mountain ranges, and ocean basins, and influence atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns that control climate. The text also discusses the impact of plate movement on the distribution, evolution, and extinction of plants and animals, as well as the formation of geologic resources. Early theories of plate tectonics, the origins of the continental drift hypothesis, and evidence supporting the theory are also covered.

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2021/2022

Uploaded on 03/31/2022

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Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and
revolutionized geology
cornerstone of Earth-system approach; explains
connections between seemingly unrelated geologic
phenomena
permits Earth’s history to be viewed as series of
interrelated events.
explains how plate interactions determine locations of
continents, mountain ranges, and ocean basins, and thus
affect atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns that
control climate
explains influence of plate movement on distribution,
evolution, and extinction of plants and animals.
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Plate Tectonics

Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology andrevolutionized geology

cornerstone of Earth-system approach; explainsconnections between seemingly unrelated geologicphenomena

permits Earth’s history to be viewed as series ofinterrelated events.

explains how plate interactions determine locations ofcontinents, mountain ranges, and ocean basins, and thusaffect atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns thatcontrol climate

explains influence of plate movement on distribution,evolution, and extinction of plants and animals.

Why Study Plate Tectonics?

Geographic distribution of geologic hazards such asearthquakes and volcanic eruptions controlled by platetectonics - Many global and regional political and economicproblems stem from uneven distribution of geologicresources such asoil and metal ores. - Formation ofgeologic resourcesis controlled byplate movement. Harry K. Brown Park, Kilaueahttp://hvo.wr.usgs.gov

Early theories

With the discovery of radioactivity andrecognition that this generated heat it wassuggested that the Earth was expanding

This could account for some features butdid not explain the mountain belts

In the 1960’s we finally came around tothe idea of plate tectonics but the basis forthe theory came much earlier

Edward Suess (1885), anAustrian geologist, proposedIndia, Africa, Australia, and SouthAmerica were once connected byland bridges (referred to thissouthern hemisphere landmassas Gondwana).

Origins of a theory

Chernicoff and Whitney (2002)

Origins of a theory Alexander du Toit (1937), South African geologist, developed Wegener’s ideasand introduced large body of geologic evidence to support continental drift (andreferred to north landmass of Pangaea as Laurasia).

Plummer et al. (2001)

Continental drift

Chernicoff and Whitney (2002)

Wicander and Monroe (2002)

Continental Fit

Best fit among continents resultswhen they are matched along theircontinental slopes where erosionhas not significantly reconfiguredtheir shape.

Here the continents are shownjoined along their continentalslopes to form the super-continent Pangaea, originallyproposed by Wegener.

Continental fit

Murck and Skinner (2002) Murck and Skinner (2002)

Wicander andMonroe (2002)

Glacial Features

The distribution of glacialdeposits (till) and striations(scratches) of similar ageindicate that Gondwanacontinents were once joinedtogether and situated in thevicinity of the South Pole,where a vast continentalglacier covered large areas ofall five continents.

Glacial Features

Arrows indicate direction of ice flow

Montgomery (2001)

Montgomery (2001)

Fossil distribution

Beginnings of consensus

Wegener and du Toit cited the bodies of evidence listedabove to support their theory of continental drift, but aslate as the 1950s most geologists did not accept theidea of moving continents. - The lack of a viable mechanism was the main reasonthat the theory did not gain wide acceptance for 40years - By the 1960s, studies of the paleomagnetism of rockshad yielded strong evidence for continental drift.

The Earth’s Magnetic Field

Earth’s magnetic field consistsof invisible lines of force akin tothose surrounding a barmagnet.

Remnant magnetism in rocksrecords Earth’s ancientmagnetic fields and the locationof Earth’s ancient magneticpoles at the time the rocksformed and is referred to aspaleomagnetism. Wicander and Monroe (2002)

Inclination of the lines of force comprising Earth’s magneticfield varies with distance from the equator. At the equator,they parallel Earth’s surface, but their inclination increaseswith distance from the equator until at the magnetic polesthey are perpendicular to Earth’s surface.^ Wicander andMonroe (2002)

The Earth’s Magnetic Field