11.1.1

The Theory of Plate Tectonics

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The Theory of Plate Tectonics

Theoretical frameworks try to explain plate movements. There have been a variety of theories and discoveries over recent times. For example:

Illustrative background for Wegener’s continental driftIllustrative background for Wegener’s continental drift ?? "content

Wegener’s continental drift

  • Wegener’s continental drift hypothesis (1912) said that our now separate continents had once been joined together as supercontinents (e.g. Pangaea).
Illustrative background for Seafloor spreadingIllustrative background for Seafloor spreading ?? "content

Seafloor spreading

  • In the 1960s, there was a discovery of magnetic stripes in the oceanic crust of the seabed.
  • Palaeomagnetic signals from past reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field prove that new crust is created by the process of seafloor spreading at mid-ocean ridges.
Illustrative background for Slab pullIllustrative background for Slab pull ?? "content

Slab pull

  • At convergent boundaries, the high-density ocean floor is being dragged down by a downward gravitational force (slab pull) beneath the adjoining continental crust.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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