Objectives for the topic: Continental Drift to Plate Tectonics

Reading: Chapter 19 in Tarbuck and Lutgens

Images to understand: 19.2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 26, 32,

After completing this topic, the student will be able to:

1. Describe the roles of the lithosphere and the asthenosphere in the motion of the plates.
2. Describe the pattern of earthquakes, volcanoes (example- the "Pacific Ring of Fire"), mountain building, and how these patterns provide evidence for plate tectonics.
3. Explain the relationship between theories of continental drift and plate tectonics.
4. Define Pangaea.
5. Describe the evidence offered by Alfred Wegener to support his continental drift hypothesis.
6. Describe the contributions of Harry Hess and Vine & Matthews to the idea of sea floor spreading.
7. Explain why the present coastlines are not the boundaries between oceanic and continental lithosphere.
8. Explain the stripes of magnetism on the seafloor.
9. Describe the age distribution of ocean crust.
10. Describe how scientists measure plate motion (speed and direction).
11. Describe the range of plate velocities (including real life analogy).
12. Calculate time (in Ma) or distance (in km) or speed (in cm/yr) given two of the three.
13. Define hot spots (mantle plumes).
14. List and locate on a map examples of each plate boundary type (transform, divergent, and convergent), hotspot, island volcanic arc, continental volcanic arc.
15. Describe the plate tectonic setting of the Pacific Northwest (including type of plate boundary, names of plates).
16. Compare and contrast the Aleutian chain of volcanoes with the Cascades.
17. Explain why the development of plate tectonic theory is often described as a "scientific revolution."
18. Be able to draw cross-section diagrams of the three plate boundaries. Label and illustrate with these terms:
    1. Plate motion: Place arrows that show directions of plate motion of the major plates
    2. Plate boundaries: Know the symbols for the three types of plate boundaries. Place arrows at plate boundaries that show the RELATIVE motion of those plates.
    3. Rock types: Show the location of origin for each of the following rock types:
       • Granite/rhyolite
       • Diorite/andesite
       • Gabbro/basalt
       • Pillow basalt; rhyolite tuff
       • Peridotite
    4. Volcano types: Show the location of origin for each of the following volcano types:
       • Shield
       • Composite
       • Volcanic island arc
    5. Earthquakes: Show the location of origin for each of the following earthquake types:
       • Shallow-focus
       • Intermediate-focus
       • Deep-focus
    6. Geologic Features: Show the location of origin for each of the following geologic features:
       • rift valley
       • mid-ocean ridge (AKA spreading center)
       • subduction zone
       • trench