PLATE TECTONICS and OCEANS FAU Geoscience板块构造与海洋地球科学系.pptVIP

* * * Mid-Ocean Ridges (MOR) Characterized by: Rift valleys Heat flow Age of ridge * MOR Dimensions Exceed 70,000 kilometers in length Cover 20% of earth’s surface Typical height is 2-3 kilometers above the ocean floor Width ranges from 1000 to 4000 kilometers * Not Mountains MOR’s are high like mountains but are formed in an area of tension, not compression The ridges are buoyantly lifted piles of hot basaltic crust Some segments of the ridge have well developed rift valleys, named for the resemblance to the East African Rift Flanks rise very gradually, with slopes of less than one degree, toward the ridge axis * Oceanic Rifts Average fifty kilometers in width May be two kilometers deep * Slow-Spreading Ridge Topography Slow spreading leads to steep profiles and rift valleys * Fast-Spreading Ridge Topography Median rift valleys are usually absent Topography is much smoother * Supercontinent-Cycle Pangaea was the most recent supercontinent, but not the only one Reconstructions of plate positions before Pangaea are very difficult, because most older oceanic crust was destroyed by subduction By matching geologic structures, paleoclimate records, and apparent polar-wandering curves, some reconstructions are possible, as shown on the following slides * 600 MYBP During the breakup of Rodinia * 510 MYBP Formation of Gondwana * 430 MYBP Collision of the northern continents * 230 MYBP Pangaea is assembled Oceans make up a little over 70% of the surface of the earth Figure 16-2 from text * * * Table 16-1 from text Figure 16-7 from text Animation: prtrench_35mb.wmv converted from prtrench_35mb.mov * Animation: marianas_29mb.wmv converted from marianas_29mb.mov Figure 17.15 in text Video: goaflyby320.wmv * Diagram: guyot-formation.jpeg * Rift valleys form at divergent plate boundaries Heat flow is very high because magma is upwelling Rock at the ridge is very young, sometimes literally forming before the observers eyes Source: /envstudies/historical/hgplate3.html Image: