Understanding Lithospheric Plates, Boundaries, and Tectonics
Lithospheric Plates and Plate Tectonics
The lithosphere is the solid outer layer of the Earth, encompassing the entire crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is composed of lithospheric plates, which are irregularly shaped pieces of varying size. Most plates are mixed, consisting of both oceanic and continental lithosphere. These plates move as if floating on the more plastic asthenosphere.
Plate Boundaries
The movement of lithospheric plates results in three primary types of plate boundaries,
Read MoreFossil Fuels: Formation, Uses, and Types
Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels – oil, coal, and natural gas – were formed millions of years ago from the organic remains of dead plants and animals. Over thousands of years, the remains of beings that populated the planet in its various stages were deposited on the bottom of seas, lakes, and other water bodies. They were covered by layer upon layer of sediment. It took millions of years for the chemical reactions of decomposition and the pressure exerted by the weight of these layers to transform
Geological Eras and Landform Evolution in Iberia
Archean (Precambrian)
More than 580 million years ago, emerged areas of the Massif Gallego and the plateau, forming a broad dorsal of NW-SE direction, which united the land after it was created in Paleozoic. The rest of the current highlight was the Tethys Sea.
Paleozoic Era
It begins with the erosion of the Precambrian dorsal and sedimentation of material torn and placed in the Tethys Sea side. At the end, the Hercynian orogeny lifted the entire block of the massif, while emerging new territories
Read MoreUnderstanding Runoff, Rivers, and Water Systems
- Runoff: The displacement of water across the Earth’s surface.
- River: A continuous stream flowing into other rivers, lakes, or the ocean.
- Channel: The path through which a river flows.
- Flow: The amount of water a river carries, measured in cubic meters per second (m3/s). This is influenced by climate, relief, lithology, vegetation, and human activity. Channel stabilization is important for accurate measurement.
- Absolute Flow: The amount of water flowing past a specific point in the river per second.
- Catchment
Understanding the 7 Types of Plastics and Ceramic Materials
Understanding Different Types of Plastics
Plastics are generally grouped into three main categories:
- Thermoplastics: These can be melted and solidified multiple times without altering their structure. Examples include PVC, methacrylate, polyethylene, polystyrene, and Polamar.
- Thermosets: Once solidified, these cannot be melted again without decomposing. Examples include bakelite, melamine, and polyesters.
- Elastomers: These materials, like natural rubber, have a great ability to deform and recover their
Earth Science Concepts: Driving Forces, Resistivity, and Rotation
Driving Forces in Plate Tectonics
- Slab Pull: Descending slab pulls the slab downwards into the mantle.
- Mantle Drag: Can be either a driving force or a restricting force, depending on the direction of the mantle movement with respect to the overlying plate.
- Ridge Push: Sum of two effects:
- Upwelling magma pushes the plates away from the ridge.
- Elevated ridges encourage gravitational sliding towards the trenches.
- Trench Suction on the Upper Plate: Vertical pull on the descending plate causes a pulling of