Making the Pieces Fit: Seafloor Spreading
Alfred Wegener's hypothesis was rejected by many who felt it lacked a credible mechanism which could explain the continental movement hypothesized by Wegener. The notion of seafloor spreading, which suggested that new seafloor develops at oceanic ri...
Making the Pieces Fit: Significance of Plate Tectonics Theory
The evidence of plate tectonics takes many forms, from mountain ranges to oceanic ridges and volcanism It is widely considered to be a unifying theory that ties together a variety of scientific disciplines, including marine geology and geophysics, p...
Making the Pieces Fit: Coastlines and Jigsaw Puzzles
The scientific work that would eventually lead to the Theory of Plate Tectonics began with observations that the coastlines of Africa and South America are strikingly similar.
World in Motion: Earth's Tectonic Past and Future
Scientists attempt to reconstruct Earth's history so as to better understand the current state of geologic affairs, including those forces that cause plate movement.
World in Motion: Plate Boundaries and Plate Movement
Whether studying earthquakes, volcanoes, or other geologic events, scientists usually focus their attention on plate boundaries and plate movement.
World in Motion: Heat, Convection and Plate Tectonics
Most scientists believe heat and convection probably play a major role in plate tectonics. And, yet, many questions remain.
World in Motion: Earthquakes and Plate Tectonics
With the advent of plate tectonics, it's become apparent that episodes of extreme geologic upheaval--like earthquakes--are much more than simply random events.
World in Motion: Understanding Earth's Interior
Many scientists believe the plate tectonics process begins deep within the Earth. The challenge is to gather reliable data about an area that no one has ever actually explored--at least not directly.