The lithosphere is cool, rigid, and capable of supporting elastic stress, while the asthenosphere is hotter, partially molten, and capable of plastic flow. Divergent boundaries create mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
GPS Earthquake Focal Mechanisms Define Tectonic Plate Motion
Convergent boundaries happen where plates collide, leading to subduction or continental collision. Each plate carries continents and ocean basins, and their interactions sculpt the majority of Earth’s geological features.
GPS measurements and earthquake focal mechanisms help quantify present-day plate motions. This mechanical contrast enables plates to behave like floating, deformable shells that can fracture into distinct blocks at plate boundaries.
GPS Earthquake Focal Mechanisms Define Tectonic Plate Motion
Core Components of a Tectonic Plate A tectonic plate is defined by its rigid outer shell, which includes both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Historical Development of the Concept The modern definition of tectonic plate emerged from continental drift, seafloor spreading, and plate tectonics theories.
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