Plate Tectonics
Plate Tectonics is a theory proposed and accepted by scientists to explain the nature of Earth’s surface characteristics and oceanic and continental make-up. Plate tectonics divides the Earth’s surface into separate sections known as lithosphere plates. These lithosphere plates are composed of the hard rigid outer crust of the earth which “float” on top of the hot more pliable asthenospheric layer. The heating of the asthenospheric layer by the lower mantle results in density changes causing a current type rotational motion which in turn drags the above plates. This motion and the floating attribute of the lithosphere plates gives rise to the Earth’s changing surface and oceanic floor features. The behaviour of the plates at their intersecting boundaries yields distinct geographical features dependent upon their composition and direction of movement. Divergent, convergent, and transverse are the three main labels associated with plate interactions at their boundaries.
