Plate Tectonics and Earthquake Distribution
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about the correlation between plate boundaries and earthquake distribution.
Oceanic Crust vs. Continental Crust
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater discusses the differences between continental and oceanic crust. Continental crust tends to be much thicker and would be thicker still were it not for the forces of gravity and erosion. In addition, oceanic c...
Plate Tectonics and Heat
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about plate tectonics as a mechanism by which Earth's interior sheds the tremendous heat that builds up as a result of radioactive decay.
Isostasy
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater discusses isostasy, which allows objects at the surface of Earth to float in equilibrium, and talks about how it helps define Earth's topography.
Making the Pieces Fit: Birth of a Theory: Plate Tectonics
Canadian geophysicist John Tuzo Wilson argued that Earth's outer layer consists of about a dozen separate plates, which float on the partially melted asthenosphere below them. His ideas paved the way for the integration of seafloor spreading and con...
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.
Differences Between Oceans and Continents (Part 1)
Geophysicist and geologist Tanya Atwater talks about the very different ways in which oceans and continents are formed and how each changes over time.