PLATE TECTONICS OVERVIEW

Chapter 2World GeographyMr. Konichek

4 INNER LAYERS OF THE EARTH

1.) Crust2.) Mantle3.) Outer Core4.) Inner Core

THEORY OF PLATE TECTONICS

Alfred Wegener and his theory of plate tectonics

Many scientist felt that the land features were fixed on Earth.

Wegener felt that all the Continents were one big land mass (Pangaea)that drifted apart.

MAP EXERCISE

TYPES OF FAULT BOUNDARIES

Convergent Boundaries

Divergent Boundaries

Transform Boundaries

CONVERGENT BOUNDARYWhen two tectonic plates collide and one plate is forced under the other.

DIVERGENT BOUNDARIESType of fault where two plates are moving away from each other.

TRANSFORM BOUNDARYWhen plates slide past one another and crust is neither created nor destroyed. Form on the boundary of tectonic plates.

EARTHQUAKES!

The sudden release of energy in the earth’s crust that creates a seismic wave.

AN EARTHQUAKES POWER…

TSUNAMIS

Large waves caused by earthquakes or a sudden volcanic eruption.

VOLCANOES!

TYPES OF VOLCANOES

-Shield Volcanoes

--Cone Volcanoes

--Composite Volcanoes

--Super volcanoes

SHIELD VOLCANOES

Broad, Flat volcanoes that oozes thick, low viscosity lava.

CONE VOLCANOES

Steep volcanoes that are layered with fast cooled magma.

COMPOSITE VOLCANOES

Tall cone shaped volcanoes, made from eruptions thousands of years ago. EX: MT. Fuji, Japan

SUPER VOLCANOESNew theory about magma chambers blocked off that will build pressure and explode. They are mostly located on land. Is there a super volcano in the U.S.?