answersLogoWhite

0

Plate tectonics (from the Late Latin tectonicus, from the Greek: τεκτονικός "pertaining to building")[1] is a scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere. The theory builds on the concepts of continental drift, developed during the first decades of the 20th century, and accepted by the majority of the geoscientific community when the concepts of seafloor spreading were developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

What percentage of the earths surface do the continents represent?

Continents cover about 29% of the Earth's surface area. The rest of the surface is predominantly ocean.


How is convection responsible for the arrangement of the continents on earths surface?

Convection in the Earth's mantle drives the movement of tectonic plates, which are responsible for the arrangement of continents on Earth's surface. As the mantle moves due to convection currents, it causes tectonic plates to collide, separate, or slide past each other, leading to the formation of continents as we see them today.


What is the process by which the continents move slowly across the earths surface called?

The process by which continents move slowly across the Earth's surface is called plate tectonics. This movement is driven by the continuous shifting of large geological plates that make up the Earth's outer shell. The movement of these plates can result in phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.


Continents and the ocean floor are part of earths solid rocky surface called?

crust


What is the process in which continents move slowly across earths surface?

The process in which continents move slowly across Earth's surface is called plate tectonics. It involves the movement of large plates of the Earth's lithosphere over the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. This movement is driven by heat from within the Earth, causing the plates to separate, collide, or slide past each other.

Related Questions

What theory of the formation and movement of the plates that cover the earths surface?

the movement and formation of the plates or continents is caused by conduction under the crust.


What is the theory of formation and movement of the plates that cover the earths surface?

the movement and formation of the plates or continents is caused by conduction under the crust.


What Continuous movement of water from Earths surface to the and back to earths surface?

it is water cycle


What percentage of the earths surface do the continents represent?

Continents cover about 29% of the Earth's surface area. The rest of the surface is predominantly ocean.


How can the presence of the seven continents on the earths surface be explained?

the earths plates shifted....


How can the presence of seven continents on the earths surface be explained?

In great detail


What is the volcanic and the drift continental theory?

the Continental Drift Theory is the slow movement of the Earths continents. A.K.A the continents drift


What is the approximate percentage of Earths surface that is covered by continents?

Just under 30%


How much of the Earths surface is covered by the continents?

Approximately 30% of the Earth's surface is covered by land, the remaining 70% of the surface is covered by water.


How is convection responsible for the arrangement of the continents on earths surface?

Convection in the Earth's mantle drives the movement of tectonic plates, which are responsible for the arrangement of continents on Earth's surface. As the mantle moves due to convection currents, it causes tectonic plates to collide, separate, or slide past each other, leading to the formation of continents as we see them today.


How has earths surface changed since the beginning of earths time?

The continents have moved, Volcanoes and mountains have made hige changes in the earths suface too.


How does the area of Earths surface covered by the oceans compare with the area of the continents?

One third is surface and the rest is the sea.