Plate Tectonics—What Drives the Plates? Overview of processes (Educational)

Опубликовано: 12 Январь 2025
на канале: IRIS Earthquake Science

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0:00 Intro
0:26 Current models
0:39 Lithospheric plates
1:00 Broader picture
1:13 Spreading ridges
3:40 Forces that push
4:14 Slab pull force
5:12 Hot young/old cold
5:28 Earthquakes
5:55 Conclusions

Lithospheric plates are part of a planetary scale thermal convection system. The energy source for plate tectonics is Earth’s internal heat while the forces moving the plates are the “ridge push” and “slab pull” gravity forces.
It was once thought that mantle convection could drive plate motions. Early textbooks showed mantle convection cells, like in a beaker of hot liquid on a Bunson burner, pushing plates along from below. Current dynamic models have plates moving as part of a gravity-driven convection system that pushes young hot plates away from spreading ridges and pulls old cold plates down into subduction zones.
Narrated by Roger Groom, Mount Taber Middle School
Animation & graphics by Jenda Johnson, Earth Sciences Animated
Directed by Robert Butler, Geophysicist, University of Portland, OR
Scientific review by Michael Wysession, Washington University in St. Louis
Technical advisor Glenn Kroeger, Trinity University
Dr. Bunsen Honey Dew II: transformative and fair use of Dr. Bunsen Honeydew© used for educational non-commercial purposes only.
Map of sea-floor ages, math of world bathymetry, and bathymetric profile of the E. Pacific Rise from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Cross section of tectonics modified from USGS This Dynamic Earth
Landslide animation: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Made possible by support from the National Science Foundation