About Plate Tectonics
Earth's rigid outer shell is broken into plates that move slowly over the mantle. Their motion explains many mountain ranges, earthquakes, volcanoes, ocean trenches, and the changing positions of continents.
Tectonic Plates
Explore the key ideas behind tectonic plates.
Learn MoreDivergent Boundaries
Explore the key ideas behind divergent boundaries.
Learn MoreConvergent Boundaries
Explore the key ideas behind convergent boundaries.
Learn MoreTransform Boundaries
Explore the key ideas behind transform boundaries.
Learn MoreContinental Drift
Explore the key ideas behind continental drift.
Learn MoreSeafloor Spreading
Explore the key ideas behind seafloor spreading.
Learn MoreSubduction
Explore the key ideas behind subduction.
Learn MorePlate Motion
Explore the key ideas behind plate motion.
Learn MoreTectonic Plates
Tectonic Plates is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying tectonic plates also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Divergent Boundaries
Divergent Boundaries is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying divergent boundaries also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Convergent Boundaries
Convergent Boundaries is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying convergent boundaries also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Transform Boundaries
Transform Boundaries is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying transform boundaries also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Continental Drift
Continental Drift is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying continental drift also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Seafloor Spreading
Seafloor Spreading is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying seafloor spreading also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Subduction
Subduction is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying subduction also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.
Plate Motion
Plate Motion is one part of the larger Earth system. Earth scientists compare rocks, landforms, maps, measurements, fossils, satellite observations, and field evidence to understand how this topic formed and how it changes over time. Studying plate motion also shows how slow geologic processes can build dramatic landscapes over thousands to millions of years. Weather, water, ice, gravity, heat from inside Earth, and plate movement often work together rather than acting separately.