Earth: A Dynamic Planet

Questions to Ponder
What do we mean by dynamic Planet?
What do the First and Second Laws of
thermodynamics state?
What is differentiation and how is it
exhibited?
How does plate tectonics affect earth?
What are the types of plate boundaries are
their relative movement?
 Outline
Earth, the dynamic planet
Physical Laws and Differentiation of
materials
Solar system and Planetary differentiation
Plate tectonics
Defined
Mechanisms for movement
The types of plate boundaries
 What do we mean by dynamic?

Closed system - a system that only exchanges

energy across its boundary
Open system - a system that will exchange both
matter and energy across its boundary
Dynamic system - a system in which matter &
energy react
Keep in mind that systems can be easily
subdivided into smaller subsystems or grouped
into larger supersystems.
Earth System

Solar System
The earth system can be
subdivided
The earth system can be
subdivided
Interactions of major earth systems
 Thus,
Dynamic only means
Reactive and
Ever-changing.

As opposed to static systems

 Controls on Dynamic behavior
Physical Laws
Whatever you do, you can NEVER break these laws
First and Second Laws of thermodynamics
First Law (Conservation)
Energy (matter) is neither created nor destroyed, but
only changes form
Second Law (Entropy)
Systems move from High energy states to Low
energy states (sometimes referred to as equilibrium)
 Thus, Second Law helps explain:
Why water flows downhill
Why unstable minerals react or change to
form more stable products
Why elements bond to form minerals (later
discussion)
The dynamics of earth
The process of differentiation
 Differentiation
Separation of materials by various
properties
Density
Size
Thermal characteristics, etc.
The solar system is differentiated
Earth is differentiated
Dynamic processes continue to
differentiate materials
Differentiation: Solar system scale
 Gravitational attraction forces
heavier materials towards center
Dense Planets Lighter planets

Differentiation
 Differentiation: Earth scale
When earth first formed, it was a molten,
homogenous blob, but, as it cooled,
remarkable changes occurred
 Differentiation: Earth scale
Heavier elements migrated towards center
and formed core; lighter elements
formed crust (ex. Ice cube floats on
water)

Differentiation
How does differentiation contribute
to earth being dynamic?
Less dense material cooled and crystallized to
form earths crust
Heavier material including radionuclides, such
as Uranium, that decay and release heat, moved
towards the core
Crust serves as insulation helps retain the heat
generated inside the earth
Thus, rigid cooler crust overlies molten internal
material
(Note: differentiation of earth material proceeds
with all of the processes that occur on earth. Well
describe these throughout the semester!)
Development of Lithospheric Plates
Cooler rigid crust forms discrete plates of
less dense (lighter material) that floats
over hot, plastic- to molten- material
Thus, continents and oceans change
shape, size and position over time
The interactions of the lithospheric system
helps control the geologic features of
earth!
How do these lithospheric plates move?
 Heat convection

Low energy
(cooler)

But cool
material is denser,
High energy and it sinks
(hot)

The Second law of Thermodynamics at work:

From High energy to Low energy states
The exact mechanism of convection
is not completely defined, but
 Earths lithosphere (Crust)
is subdivided into two types
Crust
Continental crust
Thicker than oceanic crust - up to 75 km
Less dense - 2.7 g/cm3
Strongly deformed
Much older - may be billions of years old
 Earths lithosphere
(Crust + upper mantle)
is subdivided into two types
Crust
Oceanic crust
Thinner than continental crust - about 8 km
More dense - 3.0 g/cm3
Comparatively undeformed
Much younger - < 200 million years old
Composed of basalt
Continental crust then is more
buoyant than oceanic crust
3 Types of plate boundaries
 1. Divergent boundary
Spreading apart new crust is usually
made at such boundaries
Mid Ocean Ridge
 2. Convergent boundary
Plates move towards one another
Because either of the two crust types is
involved we get 3 subcategories
A. Oceanic-continental crust
Subduction
B. Oceanic-oceanic crust
Subduction
C. Continental to continental crust
Collision
 3. Transform boundary
Plates move laterally past each other
Commonly associated with mid-ocean
rift systems
Space accommodation
Continental zones
San Andreas Fault
 1. Divergent boundary
Spreading apart new crust is usually
made at such boundaries
Mid Ocean Ridge
Mid Ocean Ridge system
actually extends onto
continental crust!
 Features of Divergent boundaries
In oceans
Volcanism
Undersea mountain ranges (ridges)
On continents
Some volcanism
Rift valleys
 2. Convergent boundary
Plates move towards one another
Because either of the two crust types is
involved we get 3 subcategories
A. Oceanic-continental crust
Subduction
B. Oceanic-oceanic crust
Subduction
C. Continental to continental crust
Collision
Continental crust then is more
buoyant than oceanic crust
 Subduction v. Collision
Subduction
Denser crust dives (subducts) under less
dense crust
Oceanic crust subducts under continental
crust
Older (cooler and more dense) oceanic crust
subducts under younger (warmer and less
dense) oceanic crust
Collision continental to continental crust
Neither subducts under one another
 Subduction: The Islands of Japan

(Also the Aleutians; Caribbean; Indonesia)

Subduction the Andes in South America
Collision the Himalayas in India/Tibet
Features of Convergent boundaries
Subduction zone
Volcanism (New rocks)
Earthquakes
Island Arcs
Mountain ranges (Volcanic in origin)
Collision
Earthquakes
Mountain ranges
 3. Transform boundary
Plates move laterally past each other
Commonly associated with mid-ocean
rift systems
Space accommodation
Continental zones
San Andreas Fault
Lateral
motion
Transform boundaries, compared
 Features of Transform boundaries
Earthquakes. (duh!)
The movement of plates, creation of new
crust, and subduction of old crust makes
earth Dynamic