Gourt > Science > Earth Sciences > Geology > Tectonics
Plate tectonics (from Greek τεκτων, tektōn "builder" or "carpenter") is a theory of geology developed to explain the phenomenon of continental drift, as one where the cooler and more solid surface parts of the Earth's rock crust ("plates") move slowly over time across the hotter, weaker, underlying asthenosphere.
The outermost part of the Earth's interior is made up of two layers: the lithosphere comprising the crust and the solidified uppermost part of the mantle. Below the lithosphere lies the asthenosphere which comprises the inner viscous part of the mantle. The mantle behaves like a superheated and extremely viscous liquid.
The lithosphere essentially floats on the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates - in the case of Earth, there are ten major and many minor plates. These plates move in relation to one another at one of three types of plate boundaries: convergent, divergent, and transform. Earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation occur along plate boundaries.
More on [ Plate tectonics ]
Plate Movements :: Geology
Structural Geology :: Geology
Geophysics :: Earth Sciences
Paleogeography and Paleoclimatology :: Earth Sciences
is fighting continental drift on a daily basis! Stop plate tectonics now, before it is too late!
BigWhale (David Klasinc) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:01:17 -0000
is fighting continental drift on a daily basis! Stop plate tectonics now, before it is too late!
@Adam4004 so explain to me, how does rejection of creationism have any impact on the allegedly important tectonics model?
hellzballer (hellzballer) Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:13:58 -0000
@Adam4004 so explain to me, how does rejection of creationism have any impact on the allegedly important tectonics model?
@Adam4004 I AM saying plate tectonics isn't important, at best it's Earth science, not biology
hellzballer (hellzballer) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:01:19 -0000
@Adam4004 I AM saying plate tectonics isn't important, at best it's Earth science, not biology
RT @dreamhampton: RT [awesome daughter's FB status update]: finally finished that stupid plate tectonics essay!
literature_news (Literature News) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:52:39 -0000
RT @dreamhampton: RT [awesome daughter's FB status update]: finally finished that stupid plate tectonics essay!
RT @Adam4004: @hellzballer Try reading again. The plate tectonics program is used by all scientists regardless of view on origin (cont) ...
GASTURBINE (GASTURBINE) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:02:41 -0000
RT @Adam4004: @hellzballer Try reading again. The plate tectonics program is used by all scientists regardless of view on origin (cont) ...
RT @dreamhampton RT [awesome daughter's FB status update]: finally finished that stupid plate tectonics essay! <--- lol that is awesome
therealseand (Sean D.) Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:54:39 -0000
RT @dreamhampton RT [awesome daughter's FB status update]: finally finished that stupid plate tectonics essay! <--- lol that is awesome
An Introduction to Plate Tectonics - Plates movements. The theories that scientists have used to explain these movements.
Applied Paleomagnetics, Inc. - Offering Paleomagnetic core orientation and paleomagnetic services including paleomagnetic fracture orientation, fracture studies in fractured reservoirs, paleomagnetic orientation of in-situ stress and more.
Meta Description: [ Paleomagnetic core orientation and paleomagnetic services including paleomagnetic fracture orientation, fracture studies in fractured reservoirs, paleomagnetic orientation of in-situ stress and more. ]
Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics - Diagrams of tectonics of The North Pacific and the West Coast of North America.
djburnette.com | Plate Tectonics and Climate - Plate Tectonics and Climate by Dorian J. Burnette.
Earth Floor: Plate Tectonics - Full and clear information about Plate Tectonics: Convergent Boundaries, Divergent Boundaries, Transform Boundaries.
Geomagnetism - Information from the British Geological Survey.
GPS Time Series - Measurements made with the Global Positioning System are sensitive enough to detect motion of the Earth's tectonic plates.
MARGINS Program - NSF funded program which tries to understand the complex interplay of processes that govern the evolution of continental margins by a multidisciplinary approach, including seismicity and subduction processes.
natureandco.com - Tectonics and Earthquakes in New Zealand - New Zealand ranks among the most active seismic places on earth: earthquakes occur there frequently and continuously. Detailed information with images, references, links, and books to buy.
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Patrice Rey's Teaching Portfolio - Resources for students in geology and geophysics, including lectures notes, slide show and virtual field trips. Topics include structural geology, tectonics, and geology of granite.
Peter Bird's programs for tectonic modeling - Tectonic modeling with finite elements: programs, publications, figures, and abstracts by Peter Bird of UCLA
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Piñon_Flat_Observatory - To measure crustal deformation in a tectonically active area, improve estimates of the earthquake hazard in southern California, and to serve as a testing ground for new geophysical instrumentation.
Plate Tectonic Evolution of the Cocos-Nazca Spreading Center - This article is about Plate Tectonic Evolution written by Martin Meschede and Udo Barckhausen.
Plate Tectonic Reconstructions and Paleomagnetism - Web server for making on-line plate tectonic reconstructions. Includes access to paleomagnetic data and analyses.
Meta Description: [ Web Server for plate tectonics ]
Plate Tectonics - Archive of articles and graphical data related to plate tectonics.
Plate Tectonics - This site provides useful information about tectonics: the origin of plate tectonics, indications of tectonic activity, age of the sea floor.
Plate tectonics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - Plate tectonics. Types of plate boundaries. Sources of plate motion.
Plate Tectonics animation - Wonderful animations of Plate Tectonics movement. Including gif, avi and mov formats.
PLATES Project - Plate model and database allow users to make reconstructions from 750 Ma to present. From the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics.
Puzzles Of The Earth - Teaches the theory of plate tectonics.
Science News Online (5/1/99): Plate Tectonics . . . on Mars - Magnetic map reveals ancient activity on the Red Planet by Ron Cowen.
Study of the Recent Structural Evolution of Continental Basins in Altai-Sayan - PhD thesis on the active tectonics of Northeast Altai in central Asia focusing on structural geology, paleostress analysis, seismics and radon gas geochemistry.
Tectonic Forces: by Robert Maurer - This is the origin and mechanics of the forces responsible for tectonic plate movements.
Tectonics - Tectonics contains original scientific contributions in analytical, synthetic, and integrative tectonics. Papers are restricted to the structure and evolution of the terrestrial lithosphere with dominant emphasis on the continents.
The Ground Beneath - Plate tectonics theory. Drifting continents. Plates on the move.
This Dynamic Earth - View of the planet Earth from the USGS.
WebDoGS Plate Tectonics Reconstruction - A collection of web goodies on plate tectonics reconstructions; links, research, animations, movies, and software.
Meta Description: [ A collection of web goodies on plate tectonics reconstructions; links, research, animations, movies, software and more. ]
WEEK 3 SUMMARY: MOUNTAIN GEOGRAPHY - Lectures on Plate Tectonics by Mark W. Williams (University of Colorado at Boulder).
Weldon Beauchamp - Tectonic Evolution of the Atlas Mountains, North Africa. Research page with links to related recources.
When the Earth Moves: Seafloor Spreading and Plate Tectonics - Describes how investigators pursuing basic questions in ocean and terrestrial science gradually arrived at an understanding of how the planet's crust works.
World Stress Map - Database containing information on the contemporary tectonic stress state (e.g. orientation and magnitude) in the Earth's crust. Users can request customized stress maps for selected regions.
Meta Description: [ Global database of recent tectonic stress in the Earths crust ]
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