What are the key features of Earth's tectonic plates?.

Tectonic plates are massive slabs of Earth's lithosphere that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. They float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below and are responsible for many geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation.

Key Facts

• There are seven major tectonic plates: Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, South American, Antarctic, and Indo-Australian.
• The movement of tectonic plates is driven by convection currents in the mantle, estimated to occur at a rate of 1-10 cm per year.
• The boundaries of tectonic plates can be divergent, convergent, or transform, each associated with different geological activities.
• Earthquakes predominantly occur along plate boundaries; the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake was a result of the Pacific Plate subducting under the North American Plate.

Examples or Use Cases

• The Himalayas were formed due to the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate.
• The San Andreas Fault is a well-known transform boundary between the Pacific and North American Plates, famous for its earthquake activity.

FAQs

• What causes tectonic plates to move? Tectonic plates move due to the heat from the Earth's interior creating convection currents in the mantle.
• How do tectonic plates affect climate? The movement of tectonic plates can influence ocean currents and weather patterns, thereby affecting climate over geological timescales.