GEOL 1301 1st Edition Lecture 3Outline of Last Lecture I. What is Earth’s ShapeII. What are Earth’s major layersIII. Earth as system of interacting componentsa. Geosystemsb. Geodymec. CryosphereIV. Plate Tectonicsa.Listhosphereb.AthenosphereV. Events in Earth HistoryOutline of Current LectureVI.Theory of Plate Tectonicsa.Divergentb.Convergentc.Transform-faults boundariesCurrent LectureWhat is the theory of plate tectonics? According to the theory of plate tectonics, the lithosphere is broken into about a dozen rigid plates that move over Earth’s surface. Three types of plate boundaries are defined by the direction of the movements of plates in relation to each other: divergent, convergent, and transform-fault boundaries. Earth’s surface area does not change over time; therefore, the area of new lithosphere created at divergent boundaries equals the area of lithosphere recycled at convergent boundaries by subduction into the mantle.convergent boundary: A boundary between lithospheric plates where the plates move toward each other and one plate is recycled into themantle. (Compare divergent boundary; transform fault.)divergent boundary: A boundary between lithospheric plates where two plates move apart and new lithosphere is created. (Compareconvergent boundary; transform fault.)These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Subduction: The sinking of oceanic lithosphere beneath overriding oceanic or continental lithosphere at a convergent plate boundary.transform fault: A plate boundary at which the plates slide horizontally past each other and lithosphere is neither created nor
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