Plate Tectonics and Geological Events

The lecture discusses the motion of Earth's plates, focusing on the lithosphere and asthenosphere. It covers various models of plate motion throughout geological history, highlighting significant events like the formation of supercontinents and the opening of the Atlantic. Methods to study plate motion, including GPS and seafloor age data, are explained. The role of hotspots in determining plate velocities is also explored, emphasizing their stability and impact on volcanic activity.

What is the primary characteristic of lithospheric plates that allows them to move over the asthenosphere?

• They are very hot.

• They are very rigid.

• They are very thick.

• They are very fluid.

Which geological period is mentioned as having a different plate configuration close to the equator?

• Jurassic

• Devonian

• Cretaceous

• Carboniferous

What major geological event is associated with the anti-clockwise motion of Africa?

• Formation of the Himalayas

• Opening of the Pacific Ocean

• Formation of the Alpine mountain chain

• Opening of the Indian Ocean

How do scientists measure the current movement of tectonic plates?

• By measuring ocean depth

• Using satellite imagery

• By observing volcanic eruptions

• Using GPS receivers

What is the maximum age of the oldest preserved oceanic crust?

• 200 million years

• 100 million years

• 160 million years

• 250 million years

What is the primary method used to reconstruct plate motion over the past 150 million years?

• Measuring mountain formation

• Observing current volcanic activity

• Studying fossil records

• Analyzing the age of oceanic crust

What is a hotspot in the context of plate tectonics?

• A place where two tectonic plates collide

• A location where magma from deep in the mantle rises to the surface

• A region of high seismic activity

• A zone of frequent volcanic eruptions

Which hotspot is known for its trail of volcanoes in the Pacific Ocean?

• Azores

• Yellowstone

• Iceland

• Hawaii

What is the significance of parallel hotspot trails in the Pacific?

• They show the stability of hotspots relative to each other.

• They are used to predict future volcanic eruptions.

• They indicate the direction of ocean currents.

• They mark the boundaries of tectonic plates.

Which plate is moving towards the west in the hotspot reference frame?

• South American Plate

• African Plate

• Nazca Plate

• Pacific Plate