Plate tectonics is the central unifying theory for. As a result of this movement, three types of plate boundaries are formed. The earth surface has continuously been changing ever since it was formed, especially regarding the geomorphological and geological phenomena. It explains plate tectonics as the driving force behind ongoing changes on earth. As ideas concerning plate tectonics have evolved since the 1970s, it has become apparent that while the theory can be applied rigorously to the oceans, the same cannot be said of the continents. The earth is composed of layers of different composition and physical properties, principally the solid central core, the fluid peripheral core, the viscous mantle, and the solid. The hotspot then explodes again, forming a new volcano 70. The concept of plate tectonics was formulated in the 1960s. Close examination of a globe often results in the observation that most of the continents seem to fit together like a puzzle. Wegener proposed that the continents plowed through crust of ocean basins, which would explain why the outlines of many coastlines like south america and africa look like they fit together like a puzzle. Development of plate tectonic theory timeline preceden. Describe some of the events and pieces of evidence that led to the theory of plate tectonics. The structure of the earth, plate tectonics and landforms.
The following website contains a more detailed and lesson plans on plate tectonics, geodesy, and vlbi. Plate tectonics also explains how continents, mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes were created as a byproduct of continental. The theory of continental drift was the first step toward plate tectonic theory, which became the foundation upon which modern geology is built. Theory of plate tectonics advances in technology in the 1960s led to the development of the theory of plate tectonics which validated but improved upon wegeners earlier theory of continental drift. In the early 1960s, the emergence of the theoryof plate tectonicsstarted a revolution in the earth sciences. This book provides an overview of the history of plate tectonics, including incontext definitions of the key terms. It would take another 50 years for the concept to be accepted. Smithsonians account of tectonic history shortsighted. Paleogeography through geologic time by ron blakey at northern arizona university. History of plate tectonics plate tectonic theory had its beginnings in 1915 when alfred wegener proposed his theory of continental drift. In 1912, wegener noticed that the coastlines of the east coast of south america and the west coast of africa seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.
Discuss with them how europe, africa, south america, and north america might fit together as puzzle pieces. Plate tectonics evidence of plate movement if youre seeing this message, it means were having trouble loading external resources on our website. For example, two hundred million years ago there was only one super continent named pangaea. The new model of horizontal movement of the continents was called plate tectonics. New crustal plate is formed at the midocean ridges and old crustal plate is destroyed at deep ocean trenches. In geologic terms, a plate is a large, rigid slab of solid rock. Notice the volcano moves with the plate, but the hotspot stays were it was 69. The father of plate tectonics, alfred wegener wasnt recognized when he proposed continental drift in 1912. An insiders history of the modern theory of the earth. Using the theory of plate tectonics, scientists have traced the movement of the continents through geological history. The father of plate tectonics, alfred wegener proposed continental drift in 1912, but was ridiculed by fellow scientists. The theory of plate tectonics states that the earths outermost layer is fragmented into a dozen or more large and small plates that are moving. Wegener wrote of a single supercontinent named pangaea, meaning all land. Also sold as part of a 4 pack item with same title.
Theory of plate tectonics reinforcement free pdf file. It started as a hypothesis and had to be proven with hard evidence before being completely accepted by the scientific community. The theory of plate tectonics, like every scientific theory, resulted from centuries of observations and compilation of many scientists works. Insiders history of the modern theory of the earth. The theory of plate tectonics geology lumen learning. Because of the strength and rigidity of oceanic plates, deformation is focused. Plate tectonics has been one of the most successful theories in the history of the natural sciences and has revolutionized thinking in all of the earth sciences.
Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. Earths lithosphere is broken into separate sections called plates. Plate tectonic theory a brief history of plate tectonic. The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations. Since it broke away from antarctica and drifted northwards, australias climate has changed from very cold, to. Nonetheless, we consider alfred wegener, a meteorologist of the beginning of the 20 th century, as the father of the theory that he at that time referred to as the. As you read each paragraph, take notes about the key ideas in the.
Two styles of plate tectonics in earths history sciencedirect. Plate tectonics is an earth sciences topic that attracts a good deal of interest, given that it a topic very often featured in popular science programmes on tv and radio. According to the theory, earth has a rigid outer layer, known as the lithosphere, which is typically about 100 km 60 miles thick and overlies a plastic moldable, partially molten layer called the asthenosphere. Central to the theory of plate tectonics is the concept of. Pdf to understand how plate tectonics became earths dominant mode of. Diverge means to move in different directions from a common point. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. The theory of plate tectonics represents a fairly young science.
Dec 17, 2019 plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. This module describes how the work of alfred wegener, harry hess, and others led to our understanding of plate tectonics. This is recorded by the change of metamorphic thermal gradients with time. Visiting scholar, department of earth and planetary sciences, harvard university plate tectonic theory, a milestone in twentiethcentury science, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of earths geological history, the formation of its surface features, and its earthquake movement.
Jan 23, 2020 history of plate tectonics plate tectonics grew out of a theory that was first developed in the early 20th century by the meteorologist alfred wegener. During the 1960s, as the seafloor was further mapped and data from earthquakes and volcanic activity was recorded, the theory of plate tectonics became more broadly accepted. Catastrophic plate tectonics a global flood model of earth. Plate tectonics is a continuous process, so the continents are still moving today. If youre behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains. In 1912, wegener noticed that the coastlines of the east coast of south america and the west coast of africa seemed to fit together like a. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features. Alfred wegener and continental drift it was not until 1912 that the idea of moving continents was seriously considered as a fullblown scientific theory called continental drift introduced in two articles published by a 32yearold german meteorologist named alfred lothar wegener alfred lothar wegener 18801930 earned a. The continents are carried on some of these plates. Plates are composed of lithosphere, about 100 km thick, that float on the ductile asthenosphere. Continental drift, sea floor spreading and plate tectonics. There are a number of excellent sites dealing with the modern theory of plate tectonics. The changing landscape of plate tectonics harvard museum. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its past continents and oceans.
In the theory of plate tectonics, the earths crust is broken into plates that move around relative to each other. When the concept of seafloor spreading came along, scientists recognized that it was the mechanism to explain how continents could move around earths surface. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. The plate moves again, starting the process over 71.
Call on volunteers to tell what they know about plate tectonics. Wegener expanded his theory in his 1915 book the origin of continents and oceans 41. Another volcano is then created forming a volcanic chain 72. Jan 17, 2018 the theory of plate tectonics represents a fairly young science. In this plate tectonic framework, large scale deformation is the local response of the lithosphere to induced stresses. He portrayed the breakup of pangaea and the movement of continents to their present position in his book, the origin of continents and oceans.
Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. It explains how the forerunners of the theory and how scientists working at the key academic institutions competed and collaborated until the theory coalesced. Plate tectonics university of california museum of. The theory of plate tectonics explains the relative movement of crustal plates that are juxtaposed with each other to form an interlocking pattern of plate boundaries, oceanic trenches, mountain ranges, etc. Baumgardners 3d supercomputer code for modeling of the activity in the earths mantle, which takes into account what is known about the way mantle rock can deform over time, is. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its. Plate tectonics by combining the sea floor spreading theory with continental drift and information on global seismicity, the new theory of plate tectonics became a coherent theory to explain crustal movements. The theory of plate tectonics guided reading and study use target reading skills possible answers. Plate tectonics theories and scientists timeline preceden. See can catastrophic plate tectonics explain flood geology. Jason morgan, professor emeritus, princeton university.
Create a timeline of the events leading to the theory of plate tectonics. A new theory for plate tectonics and the evolution of earth is introduced in the. Introduction to plate tectonic theory, geodesy, and vlbi. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shellthe lithospherethat revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its past continents and oceans. Plate tectonics theory, formulated in the 1960s and 70s, states that the earths outer crust is composed of moving plates. Historical perspective on the evolution of plate tectonic theory. There are many different categories or disciplines that make up the science of geology.
Putting these two words together, we get the term plate tectonics, which refers to how the earths surface is built of plates. Tectonics embraces as its chief working principle the concept of plate tectonics q. Plate tectonics discussion if you finish your discussion you may scroll down to the bottom of this page and watch the video natural disaster historys most. Tectonic plates are composed of oceanic lithosphere and. Plate tectonics discussion if you finish your discussion you may scroll down to the bottom of this page and watch the video natural disaster history s most destructive volcanoes national geographic documentary. Introduce students to the concept of continental movement and plate tectonics. The theory of plate tectonics key concepts what is the theory of plate tectonics. Brief history of the plate tectonics theory it started as a hypothesis and had to be proven with hard evidence before being completely accepted by the scientific community. On the history of the continents a story of plate tectonics and earth. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other. Plate tectonicshistory of how it was discovered educational.
Like the scientists before us, we will now merge the ideas of continental drift and seafloor spreading into the theory of plate tectonics. History of plate tectonics plate tectonics grew out of a theory that was first developed in the early 20th century by the meteorologist alfred wegener. Ret 2006, rev 2 7 introduction to plate tectonic theory, geodesy, and vlbi the plate tectonic theory is a relatively new, accepted only around 50 years ago. The crust is made up of six major plates and a number of minor ones. Good companion to a textbook chapter on plate tectonics. Plate tectonic theory had its beginnings in 1915 when alfred wegener proposed his theory of continental drift. Today, much of the evidence to support the theory of plate tectonics is gathered by satellite technology. The evolution of plate tectonics article pdf available in philosophical transactions of the royal society a mathematical physical and engineering sciences 37622. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three major layers crust, mantle, core within the earth that are. Geophysically, we begin with a preflood earth differentiated into core, mantle, and crust, with the crust horizontally differentiated into sialic craton and ma.
A global flood model of earth history to learn more. Continental drift and plate tectonics university of iceland. Plasienka geological institute, slovak academy of sciences, slovakia keywords. The tectonic mechanism for the generation of different metamorphic facies series along plate boundaries has changed in earths history. New crustal plate is formed at the midocean ridges and. Plate tectonics is the unifying theory of geology and. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct plates which are. The changing landscape of plate tectonics harvard museum of. And yet, the theory of plate tectonics represents a fairly young science.
The word tectonics comes from the greek root to build. The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. By extrapolating models of modern plate tectonics to the ancient, it is suggested that the rise of continents and the accumulation of sediments at continental edges and in trenches have provided lubrication for the stabilization of subduction since about 3. The paleomap project at the university of texas at arlington. Topics include a history of the theory, scientific developments that spurred its development, the mechanics of plate motions, and the relationship of hotspots to plate tectonic. In 1912 the meteorologist alfred wegener described what he called continental drift, an idea that culminated fifty years later in the modern theory of plate tectonics. Origins of plate tectonic theory earth science visionlearning. Initiation and evolution of plate tectonics on earth.