Plate Tectonics Theory

Plate tectonics is a theory in earth science about plates that ride on the asthenosphere. These plate tectonics carry continents and ocean basins. There are seven major plate tectonic plates and many minor plates. There are two types of tectonic plates: oceanic and continental plates; continental plates have a density of 2.7 g/cm^3 but oceanic plates have a density of 3 g/cm^3.The area at which these plates meet are called plate boundaries. There are three types of plates boundaries that we have identified: convergent plate boundary, divergent plate boundary, and transform plate boundary. A convergent plate boundary is where two plates are moving toward each other. If the two plates are of equal density (two continental plates or two oceanic

Continental drift is the theory of the shifting of the positioning and look of continents in the past and their predicted look in the future. 2.5 cm a year doesn’t seem like a lot unless we calculate it in the millions or hundreds of million years, possibly even 200 million years ago, the era of Pangea. Pangea is the theory that all the 7 continents that we have classified today were joined into one supercontinent, Pangea. The main evidence for this theory of continental drift and Pangea is that almost identical animal and plant fossils, and similar rock formations, are found on different continents. The coastlines of continents even match up with a little bit of rotation and alignment. Through the years, parts of the supercontinent started to drift apart and continued drifting to turn into the continents we know

Without studying plate tectonics, then we can never evaluate, prepare for, or predict: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or tsunamis. Without the theory of plate tectonics we would have never had known what the cause of earthquakes is or how to prepare for the arrival of an S-wave after the arrival of a P-wave. The theory of plate tectonics is not a lost cause or a finished theory. There is still a lot of progress to be made; right now my team and I are working on a way to predict earthquakes up to days in advance so that if the threat of a major earthquake is visible, we can evacuate before the P-wave even hits instead of panicking when the P-wave does hit. My team and I are also working on improved ways to predict and prepare for volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

Conclusion

Researching and studying the theory of plate tectonics is incredibly important to earth science and the world. With your support we will be able to predict and prepare for not only earthquakes, but also volcanic eruptions and tsunamis. The theory of plate tectonics is not over, the earth is always changing and moving, so the theory of plate tectonics must also change with the earth and not just be based on only the past. With your continuing investment we will be able to adapt, learn, and protect ourselves from the natural occurrences that can be minor on