Earth Sciences 2240F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Oceanic Crust, Asthenosphere, Rock Magnetism
9 Apr 2015
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Earth is different from other planets because we have plate tectonics. " to geological engineers, plate tectonics is important because it explains why and where significant deformation of earth"s surface occurs (thus where not to build bridges, for instance). To economic earth scientists it explains the type and location of many metallic mineral deposits. It further explains the global distribution of earthquake and volcanic hazards. Earth is the only planet in the solar system whose surface is totally determined by the processes called plate tectonics. Everything was formed by their movements (continents, ocean basins, and mountain ranges). The first step toward formulation of a theory was made by alfred wegener; he grouped his ideas under the heading continental drift" and published them in 1912. Nothing exceptional happened toward the development of the plate tectonics theory until after the war when there was a need to detect both sunken ships and lurking submarines.
