Plate tectonics is the geological study of the Earth's ever-shifting surface. The study of plate tectonics is also the study of the three most major geological effects of these shifting plates; mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes. The study of plate tectonics may help geologists discover the cause of many of the large scale extinctions that have occurred in pre-human history on Earth.
Features
Plate tectonics is the science of the Earth surface. While the surface of our planet appears to be solid, it is actually made up of overlapping series of plates. These plates are in a constant state of slow motion. As magma leaks to the surface of the planet, new plates are formed even as they are melting and covering the plates that already exist.
Function
The center of the Earth is red-hot and filled with liquid magma. The magma and plates create a cycle that is necessary for the continuation of our planet. Without the areas between plates, the pressure inside the Earth's core would have no way to release itself and instead would build up to dangerous levels. Without the constant expulsion of magma, the plates themselves would not exist.
Effects
There are three major geographic effects of plate tectonics- mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Mountains are formed where the edges of plates rub together and collide. Volcanoes are hot spots where magma and pressure are released from the Earth's core. Earthquakes occur when the plates making up the world's surface shift under the continual pressure from the center of the Earth and from other plates.
Time Frame
The life cycle of a tectonic plate is about 100 million years, which means from the time a plate is created until the time it is eventually destroyed by a newly formed plate takes 100 million years.
Warning
Earthquakes are probably the biggest risk factor for humans because of plate tectonics. Technically, an earthquake can occur at any place at any time with little to no warning. However, some spots on Earth are well known to be earthquake hot spots. In the United States, California is well known for its likelihood of earthquakes. Most buildings in earthquake-prone zones are specifically built to withstand most mid-sized quakes. The largest damage to people and buildings occurs when earthquakes strike areas not used to the effects of the shaking earth.
Volcanoes are of lesser concern because most of the active volcanoes in the world have already been identified and we usually have some warning before they erupt. Volcanoes can affect the world's weather, though, as they can shoot enormous clouds of ash into the sky that can block the sun. It has been theorized that a large-scale volcanic eruption could have been the cause of several of the worldwide extinctions we know occurred over the course of our planets history. This theory is unproven, and probably is unprovable, but has a great deal of credence in the scientific community.
Tags: center Earth, Earth core, magma plates, million years, Plate tectonics, plate tectonics
