Plate Tectonics - earth

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Slab pull

The sinking of the cooled dense oceanic plates pulls on the rest of the plate

Ridge rises

The material deposited on the top of the ridge slides downs from the rise pushing on the plate

Convection

Movement within the mantle could be part of the driving force behind the motion of the plates.

Slide 71

The Big Picture

Slide 72

Pangea

What is Pangaea?

Pangaea was a super continent at one time.

Scientists use the similarity of rock types and fossil types that date to the same age to support their theory that the continents were connected to form a super continent.

The map below give just one example of areas on different continents that show the same fossils and rock types.

Slide 73

Pangea

Slide 74

Pangea

Slide 75

Pangea

The break up

of Pangea

Slide 76

Where are we going?

We appear to be headed for another

super continent as North America,

South America, Asia and Australia converge in the

ever shrinking Pacific Ocean