Plate Tectonics

Geological and
geophysical evidence
of plates and plate
dynamics

Prepared by: CHRISTIAN ROY C. MENDIJA

Plate Tectonics
Click to check the answers
ANSWERS TO THE PRE-ASSESSMENT

1. D
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. A
9. A
10. B
CRUST & LITHOSHPERE
Earth’s lithosphere consist of relatively
rigid plates that move independently

 Plates consist of crust and lithospheric mantle

 Any individual plate contains oceanic and/or continental crust
 Each plate relatively rigid, little internal deformation
 Plate boundaries defined by active seismic and volcanic
activity
 Dynamic: new ones form, boundaries change character,
etc.
GPS data allow us to track plate motions
How fast do
plates move?
Typically
~50 mm/yr
(2 in/year),
but up to
240 mm/yr
(10 in/yr).
Geologic
evidence
shows
that rates
and
directions
change
over time
How are earthquakes distributed on the map?

 The world’s earthquakes

are not randomly
distributed over the
Earth’s surface.
 These earthquakes tend
to be concentrated in
narrow zones.
Where are they located?

 Some are located near

the edges of continents .
 Some are in mid-
continents while others
are in oceans.
Where are the active volcanoes located?

 PATTERN: Volcanoes
are not randomly
distributed.
 Majority are found along
the edges of continents.
Majority of earthquake epicenters with the location of
volcanoes around the world
Majority of earthquake epicenters with the location of
volcanoes around the world

Generally, earthquake epicenters

and volcanoes are both situated at
the same locations.
Majority of earthquake epicenters with the location of
volcanoes around the world

Earthquake epicenters are located in areas with

active volcanoes and mountain ranges, but not all areas
with earthquake epicenter have volcanoes and
mountain ranges.

Areas with volcanoes have earthquake
epicenters because volcanic eruption or activity
produces volcanic earthquake.
Where are mountain ranges typically located? Are they
located near volcanoes or earthquakes?
Where are mountain ranges typically located? Are they
located near volcanoes or earthquakes?

Mountain ranges are found in places where

volcanoes and earthquake epicenters are
located.
Where are mountain ranges typically located? Are they
located near volcanoes or earthquakes?

You will notice when you look at the image below that the
red areas, where there is a high risk of earthquakes, are
also, for the most part, areas where there are mountains.
What is the geologic record of plate tectonics?

 Patterns of magnetic
anomalies on seafloor
 Locations of earthquakes,
many volcanoes, and
mountains
 Evidence of ‘continental
drift’
What are the basis of scientists in dividing the
Earth’s lithosphere into several plates?

1. Volcanism
2. Mountain formation
3. Occurrence of earthquake

are the basis of scientists in

dividing the Earth’s lithosphere
PLATE BOUNDARIES
SUBDUCTION AT CONVERGENT
PLATE BOUNDARY
SUBDUCTION AT CONVERGENT
PLATE BOUNDARY
When oceanic crust converges with continental crust,
the denser oceanic plate plunges beneath the
continental plate. This process, called subduction,
occurs at the oceanic trenches. The entire region is
known as a subduction zone. Subduction zones have a
lot of intense earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The
subducting plate causes melting in the mantle above
the plate. The magma rises and erupts,
creating volcanoes. 
 PLATE DRIVING FORCES

 Pull of sinking lithospheric

plate (slab) at subduction
zones: SLAB PULL. This
is thought to be the
dominant mechanism
 Push of intrusion, gravity
at mid-oceanic ridges:
RIDGE PUSH.
 Traction caused by motion
of asthenosphere below
plate: BASAL TRACTION
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries

Formation happens at a divergent plate

boundary, where convection from the
mantel pushes the two plates away from
one another where the magma can then rise
between them to the ocean floor creating
new crust.
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries

Volcanism occurs when two tectonic plates CONVERGE and

a subduction zone occurs. This most commonly happens
between oceanic and continental plates. This is due to the
difference in density, Oceanic crust 3.0-3.3 grams per cubic
centimetre and Continental crust 2.7-3.0 grams per cubic
centimetre. The oceanic crust is sub-ducted beneath the
continental crust, during this subduction the earthquakes
occur also and are easily plotted and used for volcanic
eruption prediction.
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries

As the temperature and pressure increase the oceanic

crust is melted. Due to Basalt containing water this is lost during
this process and speed up the melting process and is forced to the
surface, this causes explosive eruptions on the surface.
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Volcano Formation at Divergent and
Convergent Plate Boundaries

"Hotspot" theory is another, this was first proposed by J. Tuzo

Wilson in 1963. The Canadian geophysicist noted that there were a
number of localized areas the were exceptionally hot - hotspots- these
were the location of thermal plumes in the mantle sustaining volcanism
on the surface. At the sites, plumes of molten magma forces its way
through the crust  to form volcanoes on the surface.
Tectonic plates can move across the hotspots over time and
create a chain of volcanoes. This chain is in line with the movement of the
tectonic plate beneath, the Hawaiian Islands have formed into a chain, or
island arc, even though they are located over 3,200km from the nearest
plate boundary. The islands located in the central Pacific are of differing
ages which further strengthened Wilsons' theory. The oldest islands are to
the north west at the top of the chain, the area is still highly active area
with constant eruptions forming new islands and land at present.
Seafloor is created at divergent plate
boundaries
Seafloor is created at divergent plate
boundaries

Mid-Ocean Ridges

At oceanic divergent boundaries, new lithosphere is

born hot and cools over millions of years. As it cools it
shrinks, thus the fresh seafloor stands higher than the older
lithosphere on either side. This is why divergent zones take
the form of long, wide swells running along the ocean
floor: mid-ocean ridges. The ridges are only a few kilometers
high but hundreds wide.
 Seafloor is destroyed at convergent
plate boundaries

Subduction zone (Convergent plate boundary) is an

ANTITHESIS of the Mid-ocean ridges.
 Seafloor is destroyed at convergent
plate boundaries

Subduction zone, oceanic trench area marginal to a continent in which, according to the theory of plate tectonics, older and denser
seafloor underthrusts the continental mass, dragging downward into the Earth’s upper mantle the accumulated trench sediments. The
subduction zone, accordingly, is the antithesis of the mid-oceanic ridge. New seafloor is generated from the upper mantle at the mid-
oceanic ridges, spreads laterally outward, and is eventually subducted, or consumed, at the margins of ocean basins. Subduction may also
occur between two regions of oceanic crust, with older, denser sections underthrusting younger, less-dense ones.
Three (3) Convergent Plate Boundaries

1. OCEANIC-
CONTINENTAL

2. OCEANIC-
OCEANIC

3. CONTINENTAL-
CONTINENTAL
 Earthquake Zones
Transform Plate Boundaries Convergent Plate Boundaries

Divergent Plate Boundaries

 Largest earthquakes at Convergent
boundary

About 80% of earthquakes occur where plates are pushed together, called convergent
boundaries. Another form of convergent boundary is a collision where two continental plates
meet head-on. Since neither plate is stronger than the other, they crumple and are pushed up.
San Andreas Fault (Transform Plate Boundary)

The San Andreas Fault is one of the most intensely studied faults on the planet. It

is a continental transform that separates the Pacific plate from the North American
plate along its entire trace. The trace of the fault through California .
 TRY THIS

1. What is subduction and at which boundaries does it occur?

A.Subduction is an event in which a slab of rock thrusts into

the mantle and occurs along divergent boundaries.
B.Subduction is an event in which a slab of rock thrusts into
the mantle and occurs along convergent plate boundaries
C.Subduction is vibration of the Earth due to the rapid
release of energy and occurs along transform boundaries
D.Both A and B
 TRY THIS

2. Which type of boundaries can produce volcanoes?

A.Convergent C. Both Convergent & Divergent

B. Transform D. Divergent

3. At which type of boundaries is sea floor created?

A. Divergent C. Transform
B. Convergent D. Both A and B

4. At which type of boundaries is sea floor destroyed?

A.Transform C. Convergent
B. Divergent D. Both B and C
 TRY THIS

5. What are the 3 subtypes of convergent plate boundaries?

A.CONTINENTAL-OCEANIC, OCEANIC-CONTINENTAL,
CONTINENTAL-CONTINENTAL

B. CONTINENTAL-OCEANIC, OCEANIC-OCEANIC,
CONTINENTAL-CONTINENTAL

C.CONTINENTAL-OCEANIC, OCEANIC-OCEANIC,
OCEANIC-TRENCH

D.CONTINENTAL-TRENCH, OCEANIC-CONTINENTAL,
CONTINENTAL-CONTINENTAL
 TRY THIS

6. Which of three (3) plate boundaries is the largest earthquakes

produced?

A.Convergent B. Divergent C. Transform

D. All of them

7. What is the most studied transform fault in the world?

A.Bangui fault C. Ramapo fault

B. Masbate fault D. San Andreas

Click to Check the Answers

 Answers to TRY THIS

1. B. Subduction is an event in which a slab of rock thrusts into

the mantle and occurs along convergent plate boundaries.
2. C. Both Convergent & Divergent
3. A. Divergent
4. C. Convergent
5. B. CONTINENTAL-OCEANIC, OCEANIC-OCEANIC,
CONTINENTAL-CONTINENTAL
6. A. Convergent
7. D. San Andreas
Hot Spot
Hot Spot

Hot spot is a place

within the mantle where
rocks melt to generate a
magma and forms a
volcanic feature. The
farther the distance from
volcano to the amantle
plume the older it is

As shown, Kauai is the oldest volcano while Hawaii is

the youngest one .
Triangulation: Locating the Earthquake
Epicenter
Seismologists determine the distance to the earthquake epicenter
using the difference between S and P wave arrival times. To locate
the epicenter of the earthquake, seismologists use the distance from
3 different seismographs and then draw circles that distance away
from the station. Where they intersect, that’s the epicenter.

Data: An earthquake was recorded at Stations A, B, and C shown

on the map below.
Station A reported that the epicenter of the quake was 2000 km
from the station.
Station B reported a distance of 2000 km.
Station C reported a distance of 4500 km.
Triangulation: Locating the Earthquake
Epicenter
Try this: Using a ruler, drawing compass and the scale below of ¼
inch = 500 km, locate and label the epicenter of an earthquake

A
B

C
 Triangulation: Locating the Earthquake
Epicenter
Station A = 2,000 km = __?__
Station B = 2,000 km = __?__
Station C = 4,500 km = __?__

Since ¼ inch or 0.25 inch = 500 km

Station A and Station B:
2,000 km x 0.25 inch = 2,000 km x 0.25 inch = 500 inch = 1 inch
500 km 500 km 500

Station C:
4,500 km x 0.25 inch = 4,500 km x 0.25 inch = 1,125 inch = 2.25 inch
500 km 500 km 500
Triangulation: Locating the Earthquake
Epicenter
Station A = 2,000 km = 1 inch
Station B = 2,000 km = 1 inch
Station C = 4,500 km = 2.25 inches
•The data in inches is the RADIUS of the circle for each station

Radius Radius

= 1 inch = 2.25 inches

Triangulation: Locating the Earthquake
Epicenter

EPICENTER

A
B

C
Click to check the answers
 Answers to the Summative Test

1. Mountains, volcanoes,
or trenches
2. D
3. B
4. Transform fault
boundary
5. A
6. B
7. D
8. A and F
9. B and E
10. C and D
THANK YOU