Plate tectonics
Videos
Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that Earth's lithosphere comprises a number of large tectonic plates, which have been slowly moving since 3–4 billion years ago. The model builds on the concep
Plate motion based on Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data from NASA JPL Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine. Each red dot is a measuring point and vectors show direction and magnitude of motion.
Alfred Wegener in Greenland in the winter of 1912–13
Lithosphere
Videos
A lithosphere is the rigid outermost rocky shell of a terrestrial planet or natural satellite. On Earth, it is composed of the crust and the lithospheric mantle, the topmost portion of the upper mantl
Plate tectonics
…Plate tectonics (from Latin tectonicus, from Ancient Greek τεκτονικός (tektonikós) 'pertaining to building') is the scientific theory that Earth's lithosphere comprises a number of large tectonic plates, which have been slowly moving since 3–4 billion years ago. The model builds on the concept of continental…
Idealized cross-section of Earth's lithosphere (Abbreviations: cb=cratonic basin, LIP=large igneous province, MOR=mid-ocean ridge)