The Solid Earth:

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics
Why study this in this class?
Tectonic processes make volcanoes -
ultimate source of carbon dioxide, water,
and other gases to the atmosphere
Weathering of mountains controls atmospheric
carbon dioxide, makes soils.

Tectonic processes make mountain

ranges
Mountain ranges perturb atmospheric
circulation.
Tectonic processes move continents
Continental positions influence ocean
circulation, energy input

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 Body Waves
1) Primary- Wave or Compression Wave: wave
m o v e s in same direction as original force.

2) Secondary-Wave or Shear Wave: wave moves

perpendicular to original force.

Primary-Wave or Compression Wave

wave moves in same direction as original force

DIRECTION OF WAVE

FORCE

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 Secondary-Wave or Shear Wave
wave moves perpendicular to original force

DIRECTION OF WAVE

FORCE

Seismic waves tell us about

Earths interior
Seismic wave speed depends on: rock type,
how deep they travel (due to pressure
increase).
This causes two important effects:
Seismic waves are bent, or refracted as
they travel deeper in the earth (due to
increasing in speed as they go deeper).
Seismic wave paths are shifted or
disrupted where the structure changes
(e.g., core/mantle boundary, etc.).

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Why do waves bend?

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

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Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

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Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

Slower Velocity
Faster Velocity

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Earth Structure and Seismic Waves

So
P-waves Mantle Solid

lid
Li
q ui
So

d
lid

Earth Structure and Seismic

Waves
So

S-waves Mantle
lid
Li
qu
id
So
lid

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Internal Structure of the Earth

Crust d O = 3.0 g/cm3, dL = 2.7 g/cm3

Upper Mantel
Asthenosphere 3.3 g/cm3
Lower Mantel

Outer Core
10.7 g/cm3
Molten Iron

Inner
Core
13.5 g/cm3
Solid
Iron

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 Composition of the Earth
Constraints: Observations of surface rocks,
comparison with meteorite composition,
inference from seismology.

Crust: Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic

rocks, primarily silicate and carbonate minerals.
(Silicon, oxygen, potassium, sodium, calcium,
aluminum, carbon).

Mantle: Silicate minerals (silicon, oxygen,

calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminum).

Core: Iron, Nickel (~ 6%), Sulfur.

Earth has a Magnetic Field

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 Origin of the Magnetic Field
The internal earth is too hot to function as
solid bar magnet.

But, a rotating electrical conductor can

generate a magnetic field.

Heat generated in the earth, and magnetic

fields from the sun, generate convection in the
liquid outer core. This motion is thought to
create the earths magnetic field.

Figure 6-6

Magnetic Field and Reversals

S N

N S

NORMAL POLARITY REVERSED POLARITY

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History of the Magnetic Field:
Last 5 Million Years

0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

Age (Ma)

NORMAL REVERSED

Back to Plate Tectonics

The periodic reversals in Earths

magnetic field provided evidence to
support the theory of Plate Tectonics

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 Mid-Ocean Ridges

Magnetic Record at Mid-Ocean Ridges

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Sea Floor Spreading Moving Plates

Driving Mechanism-Mantle Convection

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 Total Picture

Back to Climate

Plate Tectonics

Wilson Cylces

500 million year cycle

for continental drift

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 Wilson Cycles
Asthenosphere Continents colide Continents again
is not same temp. move toward cold
Supercontinent
Everywhere region
forms
Continents are Supercontinent
Athenosphere gets
drawn toward breaks apart
hot under continent
cold region

N N N

Timing of Wilson Cycles

Plates move at ~40 km/million years

Circumference of Earth ~40,000 km

Plates must travel half way, 20,000 km

to meet

Cycle Time = 20,000 km

40 km/million years
= 500 million years

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Continental Drift

Continental Drift

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Continental Drift

Continental Drift

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Continental Drift and Climate
Continents change latitude

Coast lines change

Mountain ranges form

Ocean currents change

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