geophysics.rice/plateboundary/

1. http://www.geophysics.rice.edu/plateboundary/ Where are the Earth’s tectonic plates and their boundaries? What happens at plate boundaries? How do Earth scientists classify plate boundaries?

2. Part 1. • Identify the patterns of your area of expertise – volcanology, seismology, geography, geochronology - AT PLATE BOUNDARIES • Describe what you observe – do not interpret what you see, just describe the patterns • Wide or narrow, straight or curved, symmetric or not symmetric, deep or shallow, ridge or valley, active or inactive • Identify 3-5 boundary types; color each on your transparency; define in words

3. Part 2. • Bring together areas of expertise – volcanology, seismology, geography, geochronology • Correlate your data sets; what collective patterns emerge? • Identify 3-5 boundary types; color each on a master transparency; define in words

4. Part 3. • Describe the different types of boundaries • What patterns were related in the different data sets?

5. Plate BoundariesWhere Stuff Happens

6. Plate Tectonics • The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that move away, toward, and along each other • Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate boundaries in DISTINCT patterns

7. Compositional Physical / Mechanical

13. 1. Divergent Boundaries • Volcanic activity in fissures, some volcanos • Shallow earthquakes, on plate boundary • Young crust, symmetrical around boundary • Ridge • Rocks? Mid- Atlantic Ridge North American Plate Eurasian Plate

15. Nazca Plate South American Plate Antarctic Plate

17. Andes Mountains

19. 2. Convergent Boundaries (a) Ocean-continent convergence • Volcanos tight, parallel boundary, landward • Shallow to deep earthquakes • Age varies on one side of the boundary; not symmetrical • Trench, mountain chain • Rocks? Andes Mountains Peru-Chile Trench South American Plate Nazca Plate

24. 2. Convergent Boundaries (b) Ocean-ocean convergence • Volcanos tightly spaced, parallel boundary, arc • Shallow to deep earthquakes • Age varies on one side of the boundary; not symmetrical • Trench, volcanic island chain • Rocks? Mariana Islands Marianas Trench Philippine Plate Pacific Plate

26. Eurasian Plate Indian Plate

27. Himalaya Mountains

28. Tibetan Plateau Mt. Everest Himalayan Mtns.

29. 2. Convergent Boundaries (c) Continent-continent convergence • Volcanos rare, dispersed • Shallow (to medium) dispersed earthquakes • No age data • High mountain chain • Rocks? Himalayan Mountains Tibetan Plateau Indian-Australian Plate Eurasian Plate

33. 3. Transform-Fault Boundaries • Volcanos dispersed, most on one side • Earthquakes complex, shallow (to medium) on both sides • Age data not symmetrical, one side of boundary • Complex topography, wide mountains and basins • Rocks? Pacific Plate North American Plate

34. Plate Tectonics • The upper mechanical layer of Earth (lithosphere) is divided into rigid plates that move away, toward, and along each other • Most (!) geologic action occurs at plate boundaries in DISTINCT patterns

35. What’s Driving Plate Tectonics on Earth?

36. It’s all about convection and heat (loss)! Vigorous convection drives plate tectonics

37. And for the rest of the week … • What features do you expect to see on other planets if plate tectonics processes are active? • What does this tell you about the interior of the planet?

38. What skills did you use in undertaking this activity? • Historical use … • How might you use it in your classroom? • What might you modify?