ERTH 1006 Chapter Notes - Chapter 16: Himalayas, Alpine Fault, Plate Tectonics
8 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Earth"s internal heat engine: driven by heat moving from the hot interior of the earth toward the cooler exterior. Moving plates and earthquakes are caused by this. Earth"s external heat engine: driven by solar power from the sun which circulates the atmosphere and oceans. Moisture at earth"s surface helps rock disintegrate over long periods of time. Divergent: plates move apart from each other which creates new ocean floor and small to moderate earthquakes (ex. Convergent: plates move towards each other which destroys ocean floors, creates and grows mountains/volcanoes and makes earth"s greatest earthquakes and tsunamis. Transform: plates move sideways past each other and does not affect ocean floor, but does create small to large earthquakes (ex. Isostatic adjustment: vertical movement of earth"s crust to achieve balance.
