The most destructive of these hazards, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, are mostly associated with tectonic plate boundaries. Pdf introduction to plate boundaries and natural hazards. What plate do residents of tallahassee florida live on. Superimposed in red are the more than 400 national park system sites. Plate tectonics it was from the continental drift theory, convection current theory and the theory of seafloor spreading, the theory of plate tectonics was formulated. Lightly shade in each tectonic lithospheric plate with a different color if possible. The individual tectonic plates are labeled in white lettering. Ocean trenches are narrow, deep depressions on the ocean floor. Use the table below and the map key on the types of plate boundaries map to draw the correct symbols identifying each type of plate boundary. Plate tectonics map set, information and credits this is.
What are tectonic plates tectonic movement dk find out. Our earth is made of large pieces land masses called plates. Scientists now have a fairly good understanding of how the plates move and how such movements relate to earthquake activity. There are three principal types of plate boundary divergent, convergent, and transform. Tectonic plates are of two types, namely oceanic crust and continental crust that. They show that lines of shallow earthquakes delineate many of the plate boundaries, that bands of deeper earthquakes and arc volcanoes locate the subduction. Plate tectonic theory arose out of the hypothesis of continental drift proposed. The pacific plate is the largest tectonic plate on earth and its boundaries host the majority of subduction zones and earth quakes. Generally, the depth of an earthquake is related to the type of tectonic boundary in which it occurs. This world map of tectonic plates is a twopage pdf suitable for printing on legalsize 8.
Convection currents in the asthenosphere cause the plates to move around. Our understanding of past movements is summarized on tectonic maps, such as this tectonic map of texas. These types of boundaries must be plotted on a map showing their approximate locations. With this activity, students will use a simple paper plate and the attached world map to model and label the major tectonic plates on earth. These features largely reflect the movements of earths major tectonic plates and many smaller plates or fragments of plates including microplates. Tectonic plates are gigantic segments or pieces of the earths crust and uppermost mantle that together constitute the lithosphere. These images show the locations of the plates and their boundaries in the earths crust.
Friction between the plates keeps them from sliding. Maps the map on the next page is offered in several formats for classroom use. Detailed map showing the tectonic plates with their movement. We live on a layer of earth known as the lithosphere which is a collection of rigid slabs that are shifting and sliding into each other.
Tectonic plates and their distribution using the plate distribution map create a colour code and outline the different types of plate boundaries. Plate tectonics plate boundaries the earths lithosphere is broken into giant chunks called tectonic plates or lithospheric plates. Click on the link below for a map of the earths tectonic plates. Lithosphere is divided into plates that slide around on top of the slowly. When plates pull apart, they create a spreading, or divergent, boundary. Plate transmit stress over long distances providing important implications for plate driving mechanisms. Activityworld map of plate boundaries wheres waldostyle geography. Tectonics of the new guinea region university of vermont.
Lightly shade in each tectoniclithospheric plate with a different color if possible. The earths crust is made up of seven main tectonic plates and numerous smaller plates. Plate tectonics describes the distribution and motion of the plates. Tectonic plates or huge slabs of solid rocks separate, collide, and slide past each other causing earthquakes, feeding volcanic eruptions, and raising mountains. Tectonic plates california institute of technology. Convergence data are shown by arrows describing direction and speed, relative to the plate across the boundary. For instance we can map earthquakes that occur there. Organization of the tectonic plates in the last 200myr ftp directory. Page two is the world digital elevation model showing topography without plate. Introduction to plate tectonics and earthquakes lesson plans. This map highlights the earths tectonic plate boundaries.
A map showing some of the worlds major and minor tectonic plates. Convergent colliding boundaries are shown as a black line with teeth, divergent spreading boundaries as solid red lines, and transform sliding alongside boundaries as solid black lines. The cenozoic collision of the indian and asian tectonic plates resulted in crustal deformation along an arcshaped. Lithospheric plates lithospheric plates are rigid and behave elastically. Can you find an example of each type of tectonic plate boundary on the map. We tried to locate some good of plate tectonics pdf worksheet and tectonic plates map to image to suit your needs. Since not everyone has access to a largeformat printer we offer the poster as a 3page, tabloidsize pdf file that can be printed and taped together. These plates move and interact with one another to produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges. The stress causes the rock to break or slip meaning they suddenly lurch the plates forward and cause earthquakes.
The areas where these plates collide often have increased volcanic and earthquake activity. The lithosphere includes both the crust and the solid part of the. Students are to create a map of the plates and write a research paper discussing alfred wegeners continental drift theory, subduction and sea floor spreading, the types. You will recall from a previous chapter that there are three. Closely spaced earthquakes with a range of depths that deepen i. The plates are around 100 km 62 mi thick and consist of two principal types of material. Plate tectonics, theory dealing with the dynamics of earths outer shell that revolutionized earth sciences by providing a uniform context for understanding mountainbuilding processes, volcanoes, and earthquakes as well as the evolution of earths surface and reconstructing its past continents and oceans. Page one is the world map of tectonic plates with plate boundaries labeled and named. This is a list of tectonic plates on the earths surface. This dynamic planet is now accessible to a wider public thanks to a collaborative project initiated in 2009 between the authors, the geological survey of canada gsc, and the canadian space agency csa that led to the translation of the text on the map to french. It was from reliable on line source and that we love it.
According to the theory of plate tectonics, the earths lithosphere is broken into distinct. The plates that compose earths surface move horizontally and vertically relative to each other, at a rate of as much as a few centimeters per year. Great project to help students understand and visualize the tectonic plates. These slabs are called tectonic plates and fit together like pieces to a puzzle.
Types of plate boundaries map identification activity. In 1967, mckenzie and parker suggested the theory of plate tectonics. Using the key above, at what type of plate boundary do plates move away from each. At plate boundaries, plates collide, move apart, move under or over each other, or slide past one another.
Plate tectonics information and facts national geographic. Tectonic plates are pieces of earths crust and uppermost mantle, together referred to as the lithosphere. Look at a world map of tectonic plates and geohazard distribution such as this dynamic planet. Background map courtesty of scott walker digital cartography specialist, harvard college library. Plate convergence vectors referenced from united states geological survey. Learn about the tectonic plates and subduction zones with this worldwide map.
A transform boundary is where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally, thus creating stress when parts of these plates gets stuck at areas where they touch and the rest of the plates continue to move. Free printable tectonic plates map, great free printable for the earthquake training or geography classroom. Asked in science, planetary science, plate tectonics why do you see only the dry land areas of. Tectonic plates are sections of the earths solid crust that float on top of the mantle. Crust mantle core crust lithosphere plate movement the crust is broken into plates that move. Students will cut their maps and make puzzles for their partners to put together. They are thicker than the ones that lie under oceans.
Plate tectonics pdf worksheet and tectonic plates map to. The southern edge of the caribbean plate, passing through northern south america, is an example. Our earth is a dynamic planet, as clearly illustrated on the main map by its topography, over 1,500 volcanoes, 44,000 earthquakes, and 170 impact craters. The theory of plate tectonics grew out of earlier hypotheses and observations collected during exploration of the rocks of the ocean floor. We can even detect the depths from which theyre originating. Divergent boundaries constructive are where plates are moving away from. Over the long term, the oceanic plates sink or subduct into the asthenosphere where they partially melt. The tectonic plates that lie under land are called continental plates.
Alternatively students can do this activity individually using world maps showing earthquake distribution. Another is the boundary between the north american plate and the eurasian plate. They merely show the jagged outlines of the enormous plates that make up the crust of the earth and the faults at the boundaries of the continents. Most movement occurs along narrow zones between plates, plate. The theory of plate tectonics describes how the plates move, interact, and change the physical landscape. Types of plate boundaries map identification directions b 1. Each individual map is available for free in pdf format. Magma underground is heated, expands, and becomes less dense, cause it to. The world is composed of major, minor, and micro tectonic plates.
Plate tectonics, the study of such relative motions and their consequences, allows relating surface, geological and. How do we know how to map tectonic plates if we dont. Rigid plates can bend when subject to a load such as volcanism or seamounts e. Detailed map showing the tectonic plates with their movement vectors. Free printable tectonic plates map tectonic plates map. Geological survey map of tectonic plates show 21 of the major plates, as well as their movements and boundaries.
Six of the majors are named for the continents embedded within them, such as the north american, african, and. There are a few handfuls of major plates and dozens of smaller, or minor, plates. The maps are also offered without tectonic boundaries to be used to see if. These land masses move around the way bath toys move around in the bathtub.
Most global maps of tectonic activity reflect a somewhat oversimplified view of plate tectonics. Tectonic plates plate boundary referenced from bird, peter 2003 an updated digital model of plate boundaries. Tectonic plates map worksheet keep this sheet so you may. Map of major tectonic plates and select great earthquakes.