The Continents and Oceans

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The Continents and Oceans
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Pangaea and continental movements

• It is believed that the continents were once
  (about 200 mya) all joined together in a
  supercontinent.
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronom
  y/planets/earth/Continents.shtml
• Pangaea began to break up (around 130 mya)
  because of movement of the continental plates.

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Layers of the Earth

• The continents (on the crust) could move because
  they rest on the mantle.
• Part of the mantle is semi-rigid.
• The outer core of the Earth is semi-liquid iron
  and is responsible for producing the
  magnetosphere.

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Layers of the Earth

• The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth (
  6-90 km).
• The core is the thickest part of the Earth (2100
  miles).

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Continental plate movement

• Plates can move in one of three ways
• Divergent- moving away from each other. This
  results in sea floor spreading.
• Convergent- moving toward each other.
• Lateral slipping- when plates slide past each
  other.
• http//www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronom
  y/planets/earth/Continents.shtml

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Effects of plate movement

• The movement of continental plate causes a build
  up of pressure.
• This build up can be released in the form of
  earthquakes and volcanoes.
• Many Earthquakes and volcanoes are located on
  plate boundaries