What are tectonic plates

Image: Our Climate

Could you tell us how the different structures on our planet Earth have been shaped? This is a question that has a very simple answer but, if you do not know it, we invite you to continue reading this lesson from a TEACHER. Next we will talk about what are tectonic plates, elements that, in addition to forming some of the best-known structures in the world, are the cause of some of the most important catastrophes that exist on our Blue Planet.

Index

1. what are tectonic plates?
2. What happens when the plates collide?
3. The movement of the plates
4. Terrestrial and oceanic tectonic plates
5. How many tectonic plates are there on Earth?

Plate tectonics are a kind of rigid plates composed of rocks that are on a semi-liquid layer called atnosphere. Between plate and plate we find that there is a small space that allows them to move a little, exactly about 2.5 km per year, that is, a very slow pace.

These movements are not unidirectional so in many cases these plates rub and they can even collide by chance.

In this other lesson from a TEACHER we will discover what the internal and external parts of the Earth so that you know better the formation of our planet.

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Within the lesson on what are tectonic plates, a very important section to understand their function will be found in the result of the collisions between them.

Have you stopped to think how the mountains were formed? The answer is found in the tectonic plates since these, when colliding in a certain way, are deformed by raising a portion of rock that ends up forming the mountain systems that we find today, both inside and outside the oceans.

Similarly, a fortuitous collision of several plates can cause earthquakes originate or even the tsunamis, elements that we know as catastrophic.

We continue the lesson on plate tectonics by talking about the various movements that occur. We can classify into three:

• Convergent movement: this movement occurs when two plates collide, the thinner one is placed below the thicker, thus originating the mountain systems.
• Divergent movement: this fact occurs when the two plates that are joined separate, thus creating what we know as the fault, a hole that goes into the depths. If this occurs within the oceans, it can also be said to create marine mountain systems.
• Transforming or sliding movement: the result of these is also the creation of geological faults, since, within this movement, each plate slides in the opposite direction, at the same time making a friction, which, depending on its abruptness, can be the cause of earthquakes (if it occurs on land) or tsunamis (if it occurs in the sea).

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To conclude with the lesson on what are plate tectonics, we stop to talk about the two types in which plate tectonics are usually differentiated.

• On the one hand, we will find the ones called as terrestrial or mixed, which belong to the areas where the various continents of our planet are found, that is, any portion of land that emerges from the ocean.
• The other type of plates that exist are the so-called plates oceanic that are found deeper than the previous ones. Did you know that the waves of the sea are caused by the movements of the plates? Although the wind is a very important element in the behavior of the ocean, when we are in front of the seashore, the waves that we receive with more or less force are caused by the movement of these plates, so we can never find a place where the waters do not have any movement (no matter how minimal, there will always be something).

One element that must be taken into account is that when these two types collide there is usually a phenomenon known as subduction, by which the oceanic plate is positioned below the terrestrial one. If this happens with great force it can cause tsunamis.

There are 57 tectonic plates in total, and then we will mention the two groups into which the tectonic plates on our planet are divided:

• Main boards: they are the most important and within this group we will find 15 plates. Some examples of these are: African, Arabian, Pacific, Philippine Plate, ...
• Secondary plates: corresponds to the remaining 42 and its importance at a geographical level is less due to the fact that its movements and interactions are less. Within this group we can find plates such as those of Maoke, Panama, Mar de Banda, Mar Egeo ...

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