Backarc basins are regions of extension behind subduction zones and are often locations where volcanoes form. The usgs estimates that, since 1900, there have been an average of 18 major earthquakes magnitude 7. Download the latest version of adobe reader, free of charge. The lithosphere lithosphere is comprised of the upper mantle and the crust, the outer shell of the earth. These files are very large and should be downloaded and viewed in adobe reader. An updated digital model of plate boundaries, geochemistry geophysics geosystems, 43, 1027, doi. Plate tectonics lesson bundle detailed description. Geological survey usgs and the smithsonian institution. Pdf documents opened from your browser may not display or print as intended. During the 20th century, a major scientific concepttheory of plate tectonics emerged to.
The plate boundaries are made up of many faults, and most of the earthquakes around the world occur on these faults. The interactive arcgis version of this map has been discontinued as of 1 july 2019. The online edition contains all text from the original book in its. Students cut and color pieces of the continents according to fossil evidence. Plate tectonics tennis ball globe gr a d es 57 len g th each lesson designed to take 2 class periods t op i c s plate tectonics, fossil evidence, geology, mapping, science history m a ter i a l s n eed ed included in teaching companion pdf. Each type of interaction causes a characteristic set of earth structures or tectonic features. This map illustrates 119 years of global seismicity in the context of global plate tectonics and the earths physiography. Thumbnail image of the front of the map, which measures 58 by 45 inches, and a figure representative of the materials on the reverse side of the map. A global study of plate tectonics as a unifying solidearth theory, which explains. The relative fluidity of the asthenosphere allows the tectonic plates to undergo motion in different directions. Selected articles from scientific american and earth will be supplied in pdf formatsee ftp.
The term refers to how the earth is built of plates, and the theory. Here are a few nice usgs maps that might be useful. Usgs mineralresource assessment of sagebrush focal areas in the western united states. I copied the maps onto transparencies and created a lab where students ultimately overlaid the transparencies to compare and contrast the locations of earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate boundaries. Subduction processes during plate convergence result in the formation of volcanoes. Causes of earthquakes earthquake hazard and emergency management 27 c. Using plate tectonics, seismicity there can be explained as follows. The cycle of earthquakes continues because plates motions continue. Go 326es 767 tectonics syllabus emporia state university. Five hundred million years ago, mother natures jigsaw puzzle pangea was put together. This pdfversion was edited by peter lindeberg in december 2001. Tectonics, in situ stress stress, faults and rock failure. Divergent margins and continental spreading centers.
Dec 28, 2016 find tectonic plate gis data there a few sources of freely available tectonic plate data that is available in various gis data formats such as shapefiles and kmz. More information about viewing, downloading, and printing report files can be found here. Call tollfree 1888askusgs or write to usgs information services box 25286, building 810 denver federal center denver, co 80225 3032024700. Students will create a model of the earth that they can hold and examine. Geological survey usgs scientists have completed an assessment of the mineralresource potential of nearly 10 million acres of federal and adjacent lands in idaho, montana, nevada, oregon, utah, and wyoming. The booklet highlights some of the people and discoveries that advanced the. Googleearth kmz layer file for tectonic plates usgs. The online edition contains all text from the original book in its entirety. The key principle of plate tectonics is that the lithosphere exists as separate and distinct tectonic plates, which float on the fluidlike viscoelastic solid asthenosphere. This plate motion causes them to collide, pull apart, or scrape against each other.
Regents questions here are regents questions for plate tectonics. The two primary objectives of this study are 1 to develop an integrated, comprehensive understanding of the geology and hydrology of the san diego area, focusing on the san diego formation and the overlying alluvial deposits, and 2 to use this understanding to evaluate expanded use of the alluvial deposits and the san. Special presentation on japanese tectonics by visting professor toshiro nagasako. Online world map with booklet pdf format giving an account of plate tectonics, volcanology, earthquake activity, and impact craters. A theory of tectonics in which the outer part of the earth lithosphere is comprised of rigid plates that interact collide, translate, rift apart, subduct. Student groups arrange the pieces using key to wegeners evident to support their arrangement and present and defend their reconstruction.
Show students some of these animations so they can better visualize how the plates are moving. The outermost shell of the earth consists of a mosaic of rigid plates that have been moving relative to one another for hundreds of millions of years. In 2003, peter bird published a global data set of plate boundaries citation. Plate tectonics in a nutshell handouts and maps see appendices. Sep 17, 2015 geology datasets merged for the san diego hydrogeology study abstract. Since the edges of the plates are rough, they get stuck while the rest of the plate keeps moving. Earthquake summary posters for significant earthquakes. Primarily designed for use by earth scientists, engineers, and educators, this map provides a comprehensive overview of strong magnitude m 5. Plate tectonics is a scientific theory describing the largescale motion of seven large plates and the movements of a larger number of smaller plates of the earths lithosphere, since tectonic processes began on earth between 3 and 3. Plate tectonics and seismicity in eastern north america compared to the vibrant tectonics of western north america, the atlantic continental margin is nontectonic. Students will examine plate boundaries, continents, and oceans on a globe. In addition to the paper map, which is available for purchase, the usgs is providing pdf files of the map.
Students will examine one method for creating a twodimensional map of a spherical surface. For example, the african plate is being torn apart. Call tollfree 1888ask usgs or write to usgs information services box 25286, building 810 denver federal center denver, co 80225 3032024700. Extensional tectonic environment a region of the earths crust or lithosphere that is spreading apart due to tectonic forces acting on the surrounding areas. This booklet gives a brief introduction to the concept of plate tectonics and complements the visual and written information in this dynamic planet see further reading, a map published in 1994 by the u.
Plate tectonics the earths crust is divided into plates which are moved in various directions. Teacher presents overview of wegeners theory of plate tectonics. The appalachian mountains and the piedmont they started as a continental fragment and a volcanic island arc about 700600 mybp. Volcano hazards program insar interferometric synthetic aperture radar is a technique for mapping ground deformation using radar images of the earths surface that are collected from orbiting satellites. The earth is composed of layers of different composition and physical properties, principally the solid central core, the fluid peripheral core, the viscous mantle, and the solid.
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