Plate Tectonics and Natural Disasters: Understanding Earth's Dynamics

1. landslide trench By Brody Denning mudslide Plate Tectonics

2. Alfred Wegener originated the of Pangaea (“all land”). He was also a meteorologist so it could of helped find Pangaea because meteorologists study the weather and he could have found something out about how natural disasters occur. His theory was that it was thermal convection in the earth, but the scientists thought it was hostile of him. Another theory being discussed was the “contraction theory.” Arthur Holmes, a British geologist, also thought the earth was a thermal convection. Pangaea

3. A convergent boundary is when two plates move in the same direction, they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. It usually causes deep earthquakes and volcanoes. During collisions between two continental plates, large mountain ranges. Some examples of convergent boundaries are the Rocky Mountains, The Alps, The Pontic Mountains, The Zangros, and The Himalayas. Convergent Boundaries

4. A divergent boundary exists when between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other. These areas can form on the end of continents but eventually Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts which produce rift valleys. Therefore, most active divergent plate boundaries are between oceanic plates and are often called mid-oceanic ridges. Divergent boundaries also form volcanic islands which occur when the plates move apart to produce gaps which molten lava rises to fill. Thus creating a shield volcano which would eventually build up to become a volcanic island.rm ocean basins. Divergent Boundaries

5. Transform Boundaries A transform boundary or transform fault is when a fault which runs along the boundary of a tectonic plate. They cause earthquakes and volcanos Transform faults occur where plates slide past each other, and crust is neither destroyed nor created. Divergent faults occur where magma seeps up through the Earth's crust, and new crust is formed as the plates are pushed away from each other. Most transform faults are found on the ocean floor, where they often offset active spreading ridgesto form a zigzag plate boundary. However, the best-known transform faults are found on land. The San Andreas fault in California is a major transform fault which runs from somewhere near the Salton Sea(meet East Pacific Rise) to the Mendocino Triple Junction. They cause earthquakes and volcanoes.

6. We live on the north American plate here in Ohio as does everyone in the United States. I think we wont have any natural disasters such as earthquakes because we are in the middle of a plate those parts that are on the edge might experience a natural disaster. I think that the world is going to come as one again. Real world Connections

7. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Continents.shtml http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/geology/techist.html http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Glossary/PlateTectonics/description_plate_tectonics.html http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/geosurvey/html/geo_f03/tabid/8307/Default.aspx http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/geosurvey/gen/seismic/seismic/tabid/7892/Default.aspx http://geology.com/plate-tectonics.shtml Sources cited