Earth Structure

• Basic layers• Layered surface

structure• Spreading centers• Subduction zones• Hot Spots• Transform faults• Evidence• Animations

Surface Layer Structure

All plate motions can be described by thinking about the movement of plates on a sphere.

Spreading Centers

Spreading centers form the longest mountain chain in the world, almost 60,000 km. They are areas of recently formed ocean crust, and have reasonable levels of shallow seismicity.

Subduction Zones

Note that Earth is density stratified, that is, each deeper layer is denser than the layer above.

At the Peru-Chile Trench, the oceanic lithosphere is much denser than the continental lithosphere, so it sinks down into the mantle

Subduction zones are areas where plates collide, usually resulting in very deep earthquakes.

Ocean islands and basins can both be created and destroyed. Destruction occurs when two pieces of continental lithosphere or island arc collide: they accrete to each other and the basin between is destroyed. This process also brings old seafloor (ophiolites) up onto continent edges.

Hot Spots

Hot spots are areas of mantle “plumes” where hot material is rising to the surface from deep within the mantle. Plate movements over a hot spot form island chains, such as the Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamount Chain in the Pacific Ocean.

Transform Faults

Transform faults form connections between spreading centers and subduction zones -- they are where plate boundaries are moving in opposite, but parallel directions.

Pacific NW has it all!

• 5 plates• Subduction zones• Spreading center (JdF Ridge) • Transform faults• Ophiolites (Olympics)• Deep & shallow earthquakes• Subduction volcanoes

• NEPTUNE - proposed regional cabled observatory - see http://www.neptune.washington.edu

Plate Tectonics: Topography

Plate Tectonics: Volcanoes

Plate Tectonics: Earthquakes

Plate Tectonics: Seafloor Age

Magnetic anomalies remain from switch in magnetic polar direction over time...left distinct pattern on both seafloor and some rocks on continents.

The Integrated Picture

The breakup of Pangaea, a “Super Continent” is responsible for the current plate configuration.

Plate Motions through time