The Solid Earth:

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics
Why study this in this class?
Tectonic processes make volcanoes ultimate source of carbon dioxide, water,
and other gases to the atmosphere
Weathering of mountains controls atmospheric
carbon dioxide, makes soils.

Tectonic processes make mountain

ranges
Mountain ranges perturb atmospheric
circulation.

Tectonic processes move continents

Continental positions influence ocean
circulation, energy input

Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonic theory : Earths
surface composed of ridgid, plates
that are mobile and interact with
each other.
Revolutionized earth science in
the 1960s.
Grew out of older ideas of
continental drift, normally
attributed to Alfred Wegener in
1924.

Global Plate System

Continental Drift
Snider-Pelligrini (1858)

http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/historical.html

Wegeners Hypothesis
Continental Drift

Continental
Crust
Ocean Crust

Evidence
Shapes of continents
Antarctic fossils records
African glacial deposits

Understanding of the
Structure of the Earth
Lead to Acceptance of
the Theory of
Plate Tectonics

Understanding Earth structure arose

from the study of earthquakes
Earthquakes result from movement within the
Earth, which is transmitted through the earth
as waves, like a sound or water wave. The
initial movement occurs at a single point
(Focus). The waves result in further motion
which we experience at the surface.
Epicenter

Body Waves

Surface
Waves

Focus

Body Waves
1) Primary- Wave or Compression Wave: wave
m o v e s in same direction as original force.

2) Secondary-Wave or Shear Wave: wave moves

perpendicular to original force.

Primary-Wave or Compression Wave

wave moves in same direction as original force
DIRECTION OF WAVE

FORCE

Secondary-Wave or Shear Wave

wave moves perpendicular to original force
DIRECTION OF WAVE
FORCE

Seismic waves tell us about

Earths interior
Seismic wave speed depends on: rock type,
how deep they travel (due to pressure
increase).
This causes two important effects:
Seismic waves are bent, or refracted as
they travel deeper in the earth (due to
increasing in speed as they go deeper).
Seismic wave paths are shifted or
disrupted where the structure changes
(e.g., core/mantle boundary, etc.).

Why do waves bend?

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Earth Structure and Seismic Waves

lid
So

P-waves

Solid

lid
So

ui

q
Li

Mantle

Earth Structure and Seismic

Waves

lid
So

Mantle

Li

S-waves

id

qu

lid
So

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Internal Structure of the Earth

Crust d O = 3.0 g/cm3, dL = 2.7 g/cm3

Upper Mantel
Asthenosphere 3.3 g/cm3
Lower Mantel
Outer Core
10.7 g/cm3
Molten Iron
Inner
Core
13.5 g/cm3
Solid
Iron

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Composition of the Earth

Constraints: Observations of surface rocks,
comparison with meteorite composition,
inference from seismology.
Crust: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
rocks, primarily silicate and carbonate minerals.
(Silicon, oxygen, potassium, sodium, calcium,
aluminum, carbon).
Mantle: Silicate minerals (silicon, oxygen,
calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum).
Core: Iron, Nickel (~ 6%), Sulfur.

Earth has a Magnetic Field

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Origin of the Magnetic Field

The internal earth is too hot to function as
solid bar magnet.
But, a rotating electrical conductor can
generate a magnetic field.
Heat generated in the earth, and magnetic
fields from the sun, generate convection in the
liquid outer core. This motion is thought to
create the earths magnetic field.
Figure 6-6

Magnetic Field and Reversals

NORMAL POLARITY

REVERSED POLARITY

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History of the Magnetic Field:

Last 5 Million Years

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Age (Ma)
NORMAL

REVERSED

Back to Plate Tectonics

The periodic reversals in Earths
magnetic field provided evidence to
support the theory of Plate Tectonics

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Mid-Ocean Ridges

Magnetic Record at Mid-Ocean Ridges

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Sea Floor Spreading

Moving Plates

Driving Mechanism-Mantle Convection

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Total Picture

Back to Climate
Plate Tectonics

Wilson Cylces

500 million year cycle

for continental drift

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Wilson Cycles
Asthenosphere
Continents colide
is not same temp.
Supercontinent
Everywhere
forms
Continents are
Athenosphere gets
drawn toward
hot under continent
cold region

Continents again
move toward cold
region
Supercontinent
breaks apart

Timing of Wilson Cycles

Plates move at ~40 km/million years
Circumference of Earth ~40,000 km
Plates must travel half way, 20,000 km
to meet
Cycle Time = 20,000 km
40 km/million years
= 500 million years

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Continental Drift

Continental Drift

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Continental Drift

Continental Drift

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Continental Drift and Climate

Continents change latitude
Coast lines change
Mountain ranges form
Ocean currents change

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