Plate tectonics: What

the Future Holds

The Changing Continenets

Reshaping Earth’s CrustThe following changes may occur because the plates are still moving

1. New smaller continents may form. This is know as rifting. It happens because the earth develops weak areas that break apart.

2. Continents may grow larger. This process is known as accretion. It occurs when pieces of lithosphere are added on to crust usually by subduction.

3. Mountain formation – When and if two plates collide again, possible mountains will be thrust upward

4. New SuperContinent- eventually all the plates will mover together again forming a new supercontinent. Most scientist predict that in 250 million years all the continents will be back together.

Effects of continental change

Modern climates are a result of past movements of tectonic plates thus future climates will change is the plate continue to move

Expected Changes:

1. changes in wind patterns. 5. formation of new

2. Changes in temperature species

3. changes in rainfall

4. changes is water current patterns