Introduction to PLATE TECHTONICS

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1 Introduction to PLATE TECHTONICS

2 PLATE TECHTONICS Global framework for explaining structural and geophysical phenomena on Earth's surface The Basics: * There are about a dozen moving rigid plates * Interactions at plate boundaries explain earth's seismicity, volcanism, topography

3 PLATE TECHTONICS-I Today: 1. Earth's internal structure 2. What is a Plate 3. Driving forces for movement 4. The Recycling of ocean crust => Ocean Basins.

4 Intro: some history how did people first figure out this might happening? You guessed it: Good Maps! By 19 th century, maps of continents were getting fairly good.

5 A coincidence?..maybe Map But, as early as 1596 cartographers maps suggested a similar relationship

6 A coincidence also?

7 Eg: Polar Dinosaurs In Oz?

8 Fossil Glossopteris leaf Ellsworth Land, Antarctica (Photo Credit USGS DDS21)

9 Fern fossils also found

10 Antarctica, Today

11 ~1912: Wegener proposed theory of continental drift Based on coastline shape AND Fossil record (fossils, coal) Climate (glacial deposits) Alfred Lothar Wegener ( ), Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

12 A Continental drift explanation 100 MY drift

13 Sounds Good?

14 But if true, then what is the Mechanism??

15 Evidence but no Mechanism Theory of continental drift was ridiculed in Wegener s time (He hypothesized that the continents must have plowed through the ocean floor ) He had no real explanation for why Until 1950s when new observations further supported idea Was not fully accepted until.. ~ s (recent!!) (Wegener died in never saw vindication..)

16 But more modern, additional evidence soon become overwhelming.

17 Echo sounding, mapping of the ocean floor began seriously post WWII

18 1) Complex ocean bathymetry Could not be explained if oceans were billions of years old Ie: Profiles showed evidence of submarine mountains in Gulf of Alaska.

19 2) Movement of the ocean floor?

20 Recall: Earth s variable magnetic field? Cased by moving molten iron in core- generates moving electric currents magnetic field True North Variation Reference Magnetic Scale Annual Change

21 Aside: Where does the magnetic When electrons move, they create a magnetic field field come from? Convection of molten iron at high heat within liquid core of the Earth drives magnetic field 1:

22

23 Historical record shows reversals in Earth s magnetic field Variable duration ~200,000 years to 10s of million years Rapid switch Hundreds to a few thousand years

24 Polarity recorded in ocean floor rocks..

25 Think of Iron Filings: little grains like this are preserved in ocean floor rocks.

26 2) Stripes are found across sea floor- could be explained by sea-floor spreading Spreading centers : Where oceanic crust is born Combination of magnetic polarization AND age dating

27 3) Age of Ocean floor: Today, we also have extensive dating of oceanic crust Old Young

28 4) Direct evidence of plate movement: Today- GPS allows you to actually watch them move..

29 Review: Lots of evidence for plate tectonic theory Coastal geometry Fossil record (mineral, plant, animal) Sea floor Character (full of mountains) Magnetic stripes of ocean floor Age of oceanic crust GPS-derived estimates

30 Taken together, all this indicates: Continents DO drift- but not because they are plowing around through ocean floor! (as Wegener hypothesized) Instead: it s the Ocean Floor that is moving! Continents are just sort of riding along BUT WHAT WAS THE MECHANISM?

31 But again: How? Why?

32 Recall: Layered Earth Recall on formation: gravity pulled heavy elements (Fe, Ni) inward to core lighter elements, Al, Si, Mg, O bonded to form less dense compounds that migrated toward the surface Where did the continents come from?

33 What Causes further segregation of chemical rock types?

34 Think: Distillation Light stuff rises up, heavy molecules left behind

35 Think Distillation? Light stuff rises up, heavy molecules left behind!

36 Recall internal Structure of Earth Surface: cool, light (less dense rocks), brittle Deeper: Hot, Heavy (denser rocks), plastic or fluid

37 So WHAT IS THE RESULT of THIS DISTILLATION? Two very basic Rock Types

38 Basalt = Ocean Crust (dense, full of Fe and other metals)

39 Continental rocks: Quartz, Feldsbar, etc. Do they look lighter?

40 Because of plasticity of asthenosphere- things can move! What could cause things to move?

41 Convection: the soup analogy

42 Basic idea: Convection Cells in upper mantel

43 So Now You have: Denser basalt sea floor crust wit Lighter granite continental crust floating on top.

44 Consider: French Onion Soup

45 Bit more Classic..

46 A bit less classic, but more illustrative: What would be the fate of the Crouton if slowly bubbling?

47 Plates of the World..

48 The earth, instead of appearing as an inert statue, is a living, mobile thing J. Tuzo Wilson 1968 Convection Cells!

49 Overall: 1) Plates are cooled lithosphere floating on plastic layer below. 2) Plates are moving.. due to convection of upper mantel 3) Continents are like Croutons.. floating in a convecting soup of basalt below- but they can never sink- so just sort of swirl around and bump into each other forever..

50 Extra Credit Fantastic French Onion Soup Recipe: Ingredients: 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 4 large onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth 1/2 cup white wine 1 1/2 cups water 2 bay leaves 6 slices French bread 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

51 Consequences: 1. Ocean Ridges and subduction

52 Ridge systems: upper limb of convection cells.

53 RIDGE SYSTEMS

54 Magma_chamber

55 E-pac rise

56 Vent schematic..

57 Axial seamount

58 Alvin on a Ridge

59 Alvin on a Ridge

60 Implications for Extraterrestrial Life?

61 Europa

62 Ice covered moon of Jupiter

63 Close up from Galileo- what does this look like? Galileo Spacecraft Image, April 1997

64 Liquid Water moving the ice cracking and shifting.. Crustal Hydrothermal systems!

65 So whats below the Ice?

66 note NOTE: Next week Bring calculator to section

67 NEXT More on PLATE BOUNDRIES, AND Faulting

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