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2. Tectonics on an Sphere

Chapter 2 discusses the geometry of plate tectonics, explaining that the lithosphere is divided into rigid plates moving over the asthenosphere. It outlines the types of plate boundaries—divergent, convergent, and conservative—and the dynamics of plate motions, including the concept of triple junctions and the significance of absolute plate motions. The chapter emphasizes that plate boundaries can change over time, influencing geological features and seismic activity.

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5 views

2. Tectonics on an Sphere

Chapter 2 discusses the geometry of plate tectonics, explaining that the lithosphere is divided into rigid plates moving over the asthenosphere. It outlines the types of plate boundaries—divergent, convergent, and conservative—and the dynamics of plate motions, including the concept of triple junctions and the significance of absolute plate motions. The chapter emphasizes that plate boundaries can change over time, influencing geological features and seismic activity.

Uploaded by

hvmt4gpknc
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 2

Tectonics on an sphere: the geometry of


plate tectonics
Chapter 2 Tectonics on an sphere: the
geometry of plate tectonics

2.1 Plate tectonics


2.2 A flat earth
2.3 Rotation vectors and rotation poles
2.4 Present-day plate motions
2.5 Plate boundaries can change with time
2.6 Triple junctions
2.7 Absolute plate motions
2.1 Plate tectonics
Earth is cooling
Lithosphere: rock, 100 km thick, thinnest in the oceanic
regions and thicker in continental region.
Asthenosphere: weak or sick
Plate tectonics: the lithosphere is divided into a small
number of nearly rigid plates, which are moving
over the asthenosphere. Most of the deformation
which results from the motion of the plates takes
place along the edge, or boundary, of a plate.
Defromation away from the boundary is not
significant.
A map of the seismicity (volcanoes) outlines the
plates

There are seven main plates and numerous


smaller plates
Volcano
The theory of plate tectonics is based on several important
assumptions.

1. The generation of new plate material occurs by seafloor


spreading; that is, new oceanic lithosphere is generated along
the active mid-ocean ridges.
2. The new oceanic lithosphere, once created, forms part of a
rigid plate; this plate may but need not include continental
material.
3. The Earth’s surface area remains constant; therefore the
generation of new plate by seafloor spreading must be
balanced by destruction of plate else where.
4. The plates are capable of transmitting stresses over great
horizontal distances without buckling, in other words, the
relative motion between plates is taken up only along plate
boundaries.
Plate boundaries:

1. Divergent boundaries: mid-ocean-ridge


Plates are moving away from each other. New plate
material, derived from the mantle, is added to the
lithosphere.

2. Convergent boundaries: subduction zones


Oceanic-trench, island-arc, one of the colliding plates
descends into the mantle and is destroyed

3. Conservative boundary: transform fault


Lithosphere is neither created nor destroyed.
2.2 A flat earth
• Plate motion on the flat earth
• Two plates
ridge

Subduction

Transform fault
Three plates

1. Horizontal movement (east-west


direction)
2. Horizontal + vertical movements (north-
south direction)
1. Horizontal movement (east-west direction)
2. Horizontal + vertical movements (north-south direction)
• The boundary between plates C and B would
not remain collinear with the boundary
between plates B and C but would move
steadily to the east.
2.3 Rotation vectors and rotation poles
R

𝑣 (velocity)= ωRsin θ
2.4 Present-day plate motions
2.4.1 Determination of rotation poles and rotation
vectors
1. A local determination of the direction of
relative motion between two plates can be
made from the strike of active transform
faults.

pole
2. The spreading rate along a constructive plate
boundary changes as the sine of the angular
distance θ from the rotation pole.

3. The analysis of data from an earthquake can


give the direction of motion and the plane of
the fault on which the earthquake occurred.
4. Where plate boundaries corss land, surveys of
displacements can be used to determine the
local relative motion.
5. Satellites have made it possible to measure
instantaneous plate motions with some
accuracy.
2.5 Plate boundaries can change with
time
• Plates and plate boundaries do not stay the
same for all time.
Plate boundary change:
1.A plate may be lost down a subduction
zone
2.Two continental plates may coalesce into
one (with resultant mountain building)
3.Transform fault ridge and subduction
zone
Parts of plate boundaries can change locally.
Predict details of future plate interactions
2.6 Triple junctions
2.6.1 Stable and unstable triple junctions

Triple junction: a point at which three plates meet.

Stable triple junctions : the relative motions of the


three plates and the azimuth of their boundaries are
such that the configuration of the junction does not
change with time.
Stable triple junctions : The relative motions of
the plates and triple junction and the
azimuths and types of plate boundaries of the
whole system do not change with time.

An unstable triple junction exists only


momentarily before evolving to a different
geometry. If four or more plates meet at one
point, the configuration is always unstable,
and the system will evolve into two or more
triple junctions.
Ridge:R
Transform fault:F
Subduction zone (or trench) :T

Stable:RRR
Unstable:FFF and FRR
2.6.2 The significance of triple junctions
Mendocino triple junctions (FFT) unstable
• This instability would result in the
northwards migration of the triple junction
and the internal deformation of the
continental crust of the western U.S.A.
along pre-existing zones of weakness.

• The details of the geometry of this triple


junction are obviously of great importance
to the regional evolution of the entire
western USA
Dead Sea fault
The Karlıova Triple Junction at the junction of the East and North Anatolian Faults
Northern portions of Arabia move approximately North 40 degrees West,
consistent with global plate motion
土耳其在2023年2月6日清晨發生7.8強震，造
成當地嚴重災情，鄰近的敘利亞也遭重創

至少55,707人死亡
至少129,500人受傷

2023/3/16
2.7 Absolute plate motions
Hotspot:
1. They occur well away from the plate boundaries.
2. The chemistry of the erupted lavas is significantly
different from that of both mid-ocean-ridge and
subduction-zone lavas.
3. The active volcano may be at one end of the island
chain, with the islands ageing with distance from
that active volcano.
4. The island chains appear to be arcs of small circles.
John Tuzo Wilson， 1908年10月24日－1993年4月15日）是一位加拿大
地球物理學家和地質學家，因對板塊構造論的貢獻而在全世界享有聲譽
Absolute velocity vectors found from motions plates relative to hot spots

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