Planet Earth. Tectonic Plate Theory. Life Sciences Essay

Tectonic Plate Theory
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Tectonic Theory
Introduction
The earth has a history of strange movements, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Some of these earthly phenomena have threatened human life. Plate tectonic theory can provide a rational clue to these happenings. Plate tectonics is a scientific proposition that attempts to explain the earth's structure and movements that occur on the planet. It posits that the earth's outer shell, which is called the lithosphere, is divided into multiple plates that glide over the mantle. The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the outer section of the earth mantle. Just below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is malleable; this allows the lithosphere to glide or to move around. This paper will explore the phenomenon of the plate tectonic theory, formerly called the Continental Drift Theory. The article will summarize a tectonic plate theory from the YouTube documentary and tie its content with relevance to learning and application.
Summary of the Documentary
The historical incidences of eruptions, volcanoes, earthquakes, and emerging mountains, serve a reminder that the earth is in constant change. When continents are sifted through, it will be noticed that some sections of the continent tend to fit onto each other if they are brought together. These continents appear to have been joined at one time. For instance, the coastlines of South America and Africa can fit into each other. The Island of Madagascar can slide well onto the shores of Africa. Similarly, North America can also slide well on portions of Africa. Many people have observed this phenomenon; one such investigator is Alfred Wagener.
Alfred Wagener is credited for proposing the idea of continental drift. He argues that the existing continents were joined as a single unit or supercontinent before they split into current continents. Wagener named the supercontinent, Pangaea. Scientists were skeptical about Wagener's proposition that continents drifted away from each other. He collected evidence to support his continental drift theory. First, he argued that the availability of the similar type of rocks on both sides of Atlantic oceans; these rocks could have been on single land before the drifting and splitting of earth surfaces, which lead to a redistribution of such rocks. Secondly, there is t...