Tectonics

Tectonics (from Latin tectonicus; from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikos), meaning 'pertaining to building') is the process that controls the structure and properties of the Earth's crust, and its evolution over time. In particular, it describes the processes of mountain building, the growth and behavior of the strong, old cores of continents known as cratons, and the ways in which the relatively rigid plates that constitute the Earth's outer shell interact with each other. Tectonics also provides a framework for understanding the earthquake and volcanic belts that directly affect much of the global population.

Plate tectonics

Plate tectonics is a scientific theory that describes the large-scale motions of Earth's lithosphere. The model builds on the concept of continental drift which was developed during the first few decades of the 20th century. The geoscientific community accepted the theory after the concepts of seafloor spreading were developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Tectonic systems

The Earth's lithosphere is divided into a number of tectonic plates. These plates are rigid segments that move relative to each other at one of three boundaries types: At convergent boundaries, two plates come together; at divergent boundaries, two plates are pulled apart; and at transform boundaries, two plates slide past one another laterally. Along these plate boundaries, earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation can occur.

Tectonic regimes

Based on seismic activity and tectonic plate boundaries, it is known that the Earth's surface has at least six different types of tectonic regimes: Subduction, Obduction, Collision, Transcurrent, Transtension, and Transpression.

See also

• Geology
• Earthquake
• Volcano
• Mountain formation
• Oceanic trench

External links

• U.S. Geological Survey
• Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology

Tectonics Resources
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