Thus he believed that the land moved after the coal was produced Since 1912, we have come along away in terms of technology and the improvement of our scientific discoveries. Although Wegner’s theory is widely accepted, it is only exactly that, a theory and therefore is still an open forum. In this essay I will discuss whether Wegner’s theory has become more concrete in light of recent volcanic and seismic events. Volcanic hazards can provide both opportunities and risks for individuals. Lava and pyroclastic flows are both examples of primary volcanic hazards, whilst lahars landslides are secondary.
Seismic and volcanic events are major pieces of evidence towards proving that plate tectonic theory is valid. Discuss the extent to which you agree with this view. (40) The plate tectonics is a theory about how the earth is split up into large segments that we call tectonic plates. These plates are the only consist of the top layer of the earth structure called the lithosphere; they float about on the Asthenosphere by the convection currents in the magma. Alfred Wegner was the theorist behind the discovery of tectonic plates back at the start of the 19th century.
The Earth’s surface is divided into 15 main plates, some continental and some oceanic. Along some of the boundaries that split up these plates the vast majority of all volcanic and seismic events take place. I will demonstrate through the use of various examples over various time periods that the theory of plate tectonics is crucial in order to help our understanding of the distribution of these events. In 1912 Alfred Wegener proposed a theory of plate tectonics. He claimed that each of the present continents was once joined together as part of a super continent called Pangea.
Plate Tectonics is the theory that explains the structure and motion of the Earth’s lithosphere. The theory states that the Earth’s crust is split into large sections called tectonic plates, and these move relative to one another creating boundaries at which plates converge, diverge and move past each other. As far back as 1620, Francis Bacon noticed that the west coast of Africa and the east coast of South America looked as if it would fit together. Between then and 1912 others identified further similarities but it was only that year when Alfred Wegener published a theory and subsequent evidence to explain why the earth appeared to be a huge jigsaw puzzle. He suggested that all continents were once a huge supercontinent, called Pangaea- which drifted apart.
Evaluate how plate tectonics theory helps our understanding of the distribution of seismic and volcanic events The theory of plate tectonics is actually a relatively new idea. It was only developed in the last 100 years and has now been widely accepted as the explanation for the cause of earthquakes and volcanoes and where on the Earth they occur. This has now replaced the original theory that tectonic events such as earthquakes and volcanoes were caused by God and his will. This was the theory in most western countries before plate tectonics theory. The main theory of plate tectonics was first developed by a German called Alfred Wegener in 1912.
It allows us to understand how sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, and Igneous Rocks use one another to not only form the Rock Cycle, but also other processes that are important to our planet. The rock cycle beings with hot magma, deep below the earth’s surface. Once the magma dries, crystallization occurs, and results in igneous rocks. Over time weathering occurs to the igneous rocks. Over time weathering takes over the igneous rocks.
Describe sea floor spreading and explain why it is an important piece of evidence for advancing plate tectonics. -It is a theory where land is created at the ridges and is then split apart. 7. Describe the general relationships that exist among the following: distance from spreading centers, heat flow, age of ocean crustal rock, and ocean depth. The farther away the older, the closer to the spreading center the warmer and more active.
In the late 1960s the theory of plate tectonics was developed by Alfred Wegener and provides an explanation for the Earths tectonic behaviour, particularly the global distribution of mountain building, earthquake activity, and volcanism in a series of linear belts. However, before the theory was developed people had noticed that the continents either side of the Atlantic Ocean seemed to nearly fit together. In 1912 Alfred Wegner published the theory of continental drift suggesting that the continents used to be joined together in an ancient supercontinent which he named Pangaea. He then proposed that it later split in to two continents- Laurasia in the north and Gondwanaland in the south, which further split forming our current continents and at some point these land masses had drifted apart to their current positions on the globe. The evidence for his theory that the continents were once joined includes continental fit where some continents seem to fit together if they were placed next to each other.
This knowledge of plate margins and their movement against one another can help us to understand the distribution of seismic and volcanic events and this is because the majority of events are associated at these plate margins. Wegener’s theory of plate tectonics suggests that all the continents were once joined together in a super continent called Pangea and have since drifted apart due to plate tectonics. To add to this, Sea floor spreading was discovered showing that rock is being created and destroyed, leading us to believe in the existence of plates and plate boundaries. Wegener gained evidence from paleo magnetism and suggested that there were numerous reasons and pieces of evidence for the continents drifting apart. Biologically, there was evidence that proved his theory for example, the Mesosaurus reptile fossils were only found in Africa and South America, proving his ‘jig-saw’ fit idea.
Assess the strength of relationship between tectonic processes and major landforms at the Earth’s surface. There is a range of evidence to suggest there is a strong relationship between tectonic processes and major landforms at the Earth’s surface due to, for example, the presence of volcanoes, fold mountains, trenches, and ridges. Tectonic processes include, divergence, which is when plates move away from each other, convergence, when plates move toward each other and collide, Subduction zones, which occur where an oceanic plate meets a continental plate and is pushed underneath, Obduction, which occurs when the continental plate is pushed under the oceanic plate, and collision boundaries, which occur where two continental plates collide and push upwards to form large mountain ranges. However this evidence is weakened by the process of weathering and erosion, due to the presence of the Grand Canyon, one of the Earth’s major landforms. As well as landforms caused by river processes, such as the Bangladesh Delta – which can be seen via satellite - therefore a major landform.