EESB18H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Convergent Boundary, Isostasy, Oceanic Crust
Document Summary
Movement of tectonic plates create most of the major geological features of earth, including earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain chains, mineral deposits, plays a major role in driving climate, ocean and atmospheric circulation and evolution. The core and mantle are the source of much of the earths heat. Convection of the mantle and the asthenosphere drives the tectonic cycle. The collision of lithospheric plates causes most of the major features and activity on the surface of the earth. It is broken up into plates that move relative to each other a few cms a year. Movement of the lithospheric plates are accommodated by subduction (destruction) where plates converge and the creation of new lithospheric material where plates diverge. The earth"s heat is generated by radiation and convection. Convection is ultimately responsible for the earths tectonic cycle. Atlantic ocean growing bigger by 5cm a year.
