Plate Tectonics and the Earth’s Interior

Welcome to your lab activity this week!  We will explore the motion of Earth’s surface with plate tectonics! The theory of plate tectonics was once controversial in the early to mid-20th century, but it now unifies many of Earth’s geological processes including the distribution of oceans, continents, volcanic activity, and earthquakes. Let’s explore the different types of plate boundaries and get a deeper understanding of how plate tectonics operates!

Image of world map with land and sea floor elevations indicated showing different land height but also mid-ocean ridges and sea trenches.
Figure 1.1 World map with land and seafloor elevations indicated by heat map. Image by NOAA, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completing the exercises and reading the text in this chapter, you should be able to…

  • Compare and contrast the characteristics of the various internal layers of the Earth
  • Explain the theory of plate tectonics and distinguish between the three main types of plate boundaries
  • Explain the scientific evidence behind the theory of plate tectonics
  • Locate real-world examples of tectonic plates and plate boundaries on the world map
  • Identify the common landforms and hazards associated with the three main types of plate boundaries

 

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