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Weathering, Erosion, and Plate Tectonics The creation of Earth’s Face Questions ► What forces and phenomena create the different features of the earth? ► What are tectonic plates? ► What are the three major Types of Plate Boundaries? ► What are the two external processes that change the earth’s surface? ► What are the different types of Weathering and Erosion? Forces that change the Earth’s Surface ► There are two major geological processes that create features on the earth: Faulting and Plate Tectonics Weathering and Erosion ► They both take a long time to change the earth. ► Remember, nothing drastic on earth happens at human speeds. Plate Tectonics ► Huge volumes of heated and molten rock moving around the earth’s interior form massive solid plates that move extremely slowly across the earth’s surface. Tectonic plates: huge rigid plates that are moved with convection cells or currents by floating on magma or molten rock. The Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates Figure 15-4 Plate Movement ► Tectonic Plates move in 1 on four ways. Spreading, or moving apart Subduction, or diving under another plate Collision, or crashing into one another Sliding past each other in a shearing motion The Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates ► The extremely slow movements of these plates cause them to grind into one another at divergent plate boundaries, move apart at convergent plate boundaries and slide past at transform plate boundaries. Figure 15-4 Fig. 15-4, p. 338 JUAN DE FUCA PLATE EURASIAN PLATE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE ANATOLIAN PLATE CARIBBEAN PLATE ARABIAN AFRICAN PLATE PLATE PACIFIC PLATE SOUTH AMERICAN NAZCA PLATE PLATE SOMALIAN SUBPLATE CHINA SUBPLATE PHILIPPINE PLATE INDIAAUSTRALIAN PLATE ANTARCTIC PLATE Divergent plate boundaries Convergent plate boundaries Transform faults Fig. 15-4a, p. 338 GEOLOGIC PROCESSES ► The San Andreas Fault is an example of a transform fault. A fault Line is created when rocks meet and lack flexibility. They crack under pressure and the fracture is called a FAULT. Figure 15-5 Results of Movement ► Earthquakes are a result of plate movement. The Richter Scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. ► Tsunamis can result from earthquakes originating in the ocean. ► Volcanoes are often located along the boundaries of tectonic plates. Magma, gases, ash, and dust explode out of these vents in the earth’s surface. Ring of Fire is located along the rim of the Pacific Ocean and contains most volcanoes. Wearing Down and Building Up the Earth’s Surface ► Weathering is an external process that wears the earth’s surface down. Figure 15-6 Weathering ► Three types of weathering: Physical ► Big Rock becomes Small Rock due to wind, rain, and frost wedging. ► Frost wedging occurs when water freezes in between the pores of large sedimentary rocks. Chemical ► When a chemical reaction degrades or decomposes a rock. ► More common with rocks containing carbon and oxygen, like limestone. Biological ► Conversion of Rock and Minerals into smaller particles due to living thing. ► Lichens, Tree Roots, Earthworms. Parent material (rock) Biological weathering (tree roots and lichens) Chemical weathering (water, acids, and gases) Particles of parent material Physical weathering (wind, rain, thermal expansion and contraction, water freezing) Fig. 15-6, p. 340 Erosion ► Erosion is another major external factor that changes the surface of the earth. ► Erosion is different from weathering because erosion deposits materials from one place to another. ► Four major examples of erosion: Glacial Movement and Melt Mass Wasting Water Erosion Wind Erosion Glacial Movement and Mass Wasting ► Glacial Movement The Movement of Glaciers grind away mountainsides and form basins to capture melted ice water The Great Lakes were formed using this method. ► Mass Wasting When Rock and soil masses become detached from underlying material and move downhill under the influence of gravity. ► Rockslides, Mudslides, and Landslides Clearing of Trees and other vegetation increase Mass Wasting Occurrences. Water and Wind Erosion ► Water Erosion Water picks up material and moves it down stream. Waves can also reduce or increase beaches. ► Wind Erosion Wind transports and deposits sediments. Wind speeds must reach a minimum of 11 miles per hour before sediment can be moved.