Changes

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]]

[[File:lighterstill.jpg]]

[[File:TectonicReconstructionGlobal.gif]]

[[File:TectonicReconstructionGlobal.gif]]

<blockquote>'''Plate tectonics''' (from the Late [[Latin]] tectonicus, from the [[Greek]]: τεκτονικός "pertaining to building") is a [[scientific]] [[theory]] which describes the large scale [[motions]] of [[Earth]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithosphere lithosphere]. It is vital for the [[existence]] of life on earth because of the role that it plays in the global [[cycle]] that maintains the [[balance]] of carbon between the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere biosphere], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedosphere pedosphere], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosphere geosphere], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrosphere hydrosphere], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere atmosphere]. A similar [[process]] likely takes place on other [[celestial]] objects when they are sufficiently similar to Earth. The [[theory]] builds on the older [[concepts]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_drift continental drift], developed during the first decades of the 20th century by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wegener Alfred Wegener], and seafloor spreading, developed in the [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960's 1960s].</blockquote>

<blockquote>'''Plate tectonics''' (from the Late [[Latin]] tectonicus, from the [[Greek]]: τεκτονικός "pertaining to building") is a [[scientific]] [[theory]] which describes the large scale [[motions]] of [[Earth]]'s [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithosphere lithosphere]. It is vital for the [[existence]] of life on earth because of the role that it plays in the global [[cycle]] that maintains the [[balance]] of carbon between the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere biosphere], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedosphere pedosphere], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geosphere geosphere], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrosphere hydrosphere], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere atmosphere]. A similar [[process]] likely takes place on other [[celestial]] objects when they are sufficiently similar to Earth. The [[theory]] builds on the older [[concepts]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_drift continental drift], developed during the first decades of the 20th century by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Wegener Alfred Wegener], and seafloor spreading, developed in the [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960's 1960s].</blockquote>

<blockquote>The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates. In the case of [[Earth]], there are currently seven to eight major (depending on how they are defined) and many minor plates. The lithospheric plates ride on the asthenosphere. These plates move in [[relation]] to one another at one of three types of plate boundaries: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_boundary convergent], or collisional boundaries; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergent_boundary divergent boundaries], also called spreading centers; and transform boundaries. Earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation occur along plate boundaries. The lateral movement of the plates is typically 50–100 mm annually.</blockquote>

<blockquote>The lithosphere is broken up into what are called tectonic plates. In the case of [[Earth]], there are currently seven to eight major (depending on how they are defined) and many minor plates. The lithospheric plates ride on the asthenosphere. These plates move in [[relation]] to one another at one of three types of plate boundaries: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergent_boundary convergent], or collisional boundaries; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divergent_boundary divergent boundaries], also called spreading centers; and transform boundaries. Earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation occur along plate boundaries. The lateral movement of the plates is typically 50–100 mm annually.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Tectonic plates are able to move because the Earth's lithosphere has a higher strength and lower density than the underlying asthenosphere. Their movement is driven by heat dissipation from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_(geology) mantle]. Lateral density variations in the mantle result in convection, which is transferred into tectonic plate motion through some combination of drag, downward suction at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subduction subduction zones], and variations in topography and density of the crust that result in [[differences]] in [[gravitational]] [[force]]s. The [[relative]] importance of each of these factors is unclear.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics]</blockquote>

<blockquote>Tectonic plates are able to move because the Earth's lithosphere has a higher strength and lower density than the underlying asthenosphere. Their movement is driven by heat dissipation from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantle_(geology) mantle]. Lateral density variations in the mantle result in convection, which is transferred into tectonic plate motion through some combination of drag, downward suction at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subduction subduction zones], and variations in topography and density of the crust that result in [[differences]] in [[gravitational]] [[force]]s. The [[relative]] importance of each of these factors is unclear.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plate_tectonics]</blockquote>

==See Also==

==See Also==

*[http://books.google.com/books?id=WNplY_v5TP4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+garden+of+ediacara&ei=nW9yS9e8Faf6ygTs6eGMBQ&client=firefox-a&cd=1 The Garden of Ediacara]

*[https://books.google.com/books?id=WNplY_v5TP4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+garden+of+ediacara&ei=nW9yS9e8Faf6ygTs6eGMBQ&client=firefox-a&cd=1 The Garden of Ediacara]

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]