Spark Plug

What is: Continetal

Drift, Seafloor
Spreading,
Plate Tectonics?
Lets review:
This shows the earth's layers
somewhat to scale:
There are 4 main layers of the earth:
Crust: the thinnest layer. The layer we
live on.
Mantle : the thickest layer. It is made out
of
molten rock, and circulates in
convection currents.
Outer core: liquid. Made of iron and
nickel.
Inner core : solid. Made of iron and
nickel. The
hottest layer
of the Earth.
The mantle has sub-layers:
The lithosphere
contains all of the
crust and the upper,
rigid part of the
mantle. This is what
makes up the moving
plates.
The asthenosphere
is much of the upper
mantle. It is plastic-
like, and this is what
the earth's plates
"slide on.".
The Evolution of the Theory of Plate Tectonics
Continental Drift:
About 1910, Alfred Wegner developed
the theory that 200 million years ago, all
the continents were once joined
together and are moving apart from that
one continent to their current locations.
This was based on fossil, geologic and
climate evidence he found.
His theory was not excepted because he
could not explain how the continents
moved.
Pangaea
the super
continent that
existed over
200 million
years ago. All
current
continents
were once
joined as one.
Seafloor Spreading
During WWII, Harry Hess found the mid-
ocean ridges with the use of sonar
equipment. He determined that new
crust was being formed as the plates
were separating and old crust was being
destroyed at ocean trenches. This
movement of the plates was caused by
the action of a convection current within
the Earths mantle. A convection
current is the transfer of heat energy by
hot material rising, cooling and sinking,
heating again and rising..
Convection Currents
in the Mantle
Spark Plug
Why was Harry Hesss
theory on Seafloor
Spreading important to
Alfred Wegners theory on
Continental Drift?
Bringing it together..
Find 5 inaccuracies in this video clip.
 Spark Plug: Copy this
Plate
Boundaries where tectonic plates meet. Most
earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain building occurs at these
boundaries.
Divergent Plate Boundaries where plates move apart.

Mid-ocean ridges or rift valleys

form. New Crust is being formed.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example.
Convergent Plate Boundaries where plates move together.

Deep ocean trenches, mountains and volcanoes can

occur at these boundries.
Subduction Zone occur at convergent boundaries. Old

crust is being destroyed by being forced

back into the mantle and melted.
Transform Plate Boundaries (Strike Slip) plates slide past

one another. Earthquakes occur when the rock breaks

from the stress or release of pressure.
The San Andreas Fault is an example.
What 2 plate boundaries
are shown in this video?
Convection Currents in the
Mantle