A geological theory which holds that the crust of the earth (the lithosphere) is divided into a small number of large separate plates which float and move slowly around on the more plastic asthenosphere, breaking apart and moving away from each other at points where magma upwells from below, and, driven by such upwellings and other currents on the athenosphere, sliding past each other, colliding with each other, and in some cases being submerged (subducted) one below the other. This theory is now widely accepted, and explains many geological phenomena such as the clustered locations of earthquakes, mountain building, volcanism, and the similarities observed between the geology of continents, such as South America and Africa which are now far apart, but, according to the theory, were once joined together. The motions of such tectonic plates are very slow, typically only several centimeters per year, but over tens and hundreds of millions of years, cause very large changes in the relative positions of the continents. The consequence of such movement of plates is called continental drift.

The theory and study of the formation and division of the lithosphere into plates as well as the movement, interactions and destruction associated with them. The rigid plates interact with one another at their boundaries.

A widely accepted theory that relates most of the geologic features near the Earth's surface to the movement and interaction of relatively thin rock plates. The theory predicts that most earthquakes occur when plates move past each other.(See also mantle.)

The theory and study of plate formation, movement, interactions, and destruction; the attempt to explain seismicity, volcanism, mountain building, and evidence of paleomagnetism in terms of plate motions.

A theory in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of plates whose pattern of horizontal movement is that of rigid bodies that interact with each other at their boundaries, causing seismic activity and the deformation of the lithosphere along these boundaries.

A scientific theory that states the Earth's surface is broken into sections, called plates, that move and interact with one another.

The mechanism of continental drift, by which continents move very slowly towards or away from each other, carried on "plates" floating on the earth's molten core.

the motions of large segments of the Earth's surface, having the form of plates, over the mantle.

Generally accepted explanation for observed earthquakes, volcanoes, and some other geologic phenomena that occur in definite places on the earth.

Theory of geophysical processes that explains the movements of lithospheric plates and the processes that occur at their boundaries. See lithosphere, tectonic plates.

The theory and study of plate formation, movement and interactions. Earthquakes, the origin of mountains and valleys, volcanos and almost all aspects of geology involve the theory of plate tectonics.

The theory that the earth's outer shell consists of plates which interact in different ways to produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and the crust itself.

The theory that the crust of the Earth is divided into about 15 plates which are slowly drifting across the surface of the globe, driven by convection currents within the mantle below.

the theory that the Earth's continental and oceanic crust and outermost portion of the mantle is fractured into large plates that move relative to each other. Convective currents in the mantle provide the driving force for this motion. The plate motion is responsible for global mountain building, earthquake activity, and volcanism, all of which are most pronounced along plate boundaries ~ See Also: continental drift.

movement of the crustal plates comprising Earth's surface, with continents "riding" them

A theory in geology: the crust of the earth is divided into a small number of moving plates whose movements cause geological activity (such as earthquakes).

The name given to the study of the major features of the earths crust, including the movement of the continents.

A theory or conceptual model that encompasses continental drift, sea-floor spreading, and the interaction of lithospheric plates and crustal movement. (Adapted from Christopherson, R.W. Geosystems 4th Edition, Prentice Hall, NJ: 2002.) Click here to read more about plate tectonics.

the theory that the surface of the Earth is composed of lithospheric plates that float on the underlying plastic mantle and are moved around by convection within the mantle. The plates move relative to each other and can collide, forming mountain ranges, divide or have one ride over the top of another - a process called subduction.

The motions of regions of Earth's crust, which drift with respect to one another. Also known as continental drift.

The theory that the Earth's lithosphere consists of large, rigid plates that move horizontally in response to the flow of the asthenosphere beneath them, and that interactions among the plates at their borders cause most major geologic activity, including the creation of oceans, continents, mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

theory that the earth's lithosphere is divided into irregular plates that are subducting, spreading, or sliding past (transverse movement) one another. These motions cause volcanic and earthquake activity along plate edges.

the theory that the outer layer of the Earth consists of rigid plates of lithosphere in motion relative to each other and to the interior of the Earth.

Geologic theory that the bending (folding) and breaking (faulting) of the solid surface of the earth results from the slow movement of large sections (plates) of that surface.

The theory of global tectonics in which the lithosphere (rigid part of the Earth's crust) is divided into a number of plates whose pattern of horizontal movement is that of rigid bodies that interact at their boundaries, resulting in earthquakes and volcanic activity (such as the well-known Pacific Ring of Fire).

The theory of global dynamics in which the lithosphere is believed to be broken into individual plates that move in response to convection in the upper mantle. The margins of the plates are sites of considerable geologic activity.

the branch of geology studying the folding and faulting of the earth's crust

the idea that the earth's upper crust consists of a sequence of rigid plates.

Theory dealing with plates and their activity.

theory and study of Earth's lithospheric plates, their formation, movement, interaction, and destruction; the attempts to explain Earth's crustal changes in terms of plate movements.

The division of Earth's crust into a number of different plates which move independantly of each other.

The theory that the earth's surface is broken into a number of large thick plates that are slowly and continuously moving

The surface of the Earth is broken into large plates that move very gradually over time. Where the edges of two plates come together, there is often intense and sometimes dangerous geological activity, including earthquakes and volcanoes. The massive pressure can also create mountain ranges, which continue to push upwards for many years, as the plates buckle against each other.

The theory that accounts for seismic activity, mountain building, volcanism, and other geological manifestations of crustal plate movement with sea-floor spreading.

The unifying theory of geology, which hypothesizes that the Earth is broken into a mosaic of rigid lithospheric plates which move across the Earth's surface. The theory has helped to explain much in global-scale geology, including the formation of mountains and the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Earth's solid crust is broken up into about a dozen semi-rigid plates, boundaries of which are zones of tectonic activity.

A theory supported by a wide range of evidence that the Earth's crust and upper mantle are composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that move relative to one another. Slips, which occur on faults defining plate boundaries, commonly result in earthquakes. Several styles of faults form the boundaries of the plates, including: thrust faults - where plate material has moved beneath or been consumed within the mantle oceanic spreading ridges - where new earth crust material has formed transform faults - these make room for material from horizontal slip (strike slip) between adjoining plates.

the geologic theory that Earth's crust is composed of rigid plates that "float" toward or away from each other, either directly or indirectly, creating the major geologic features on the planet's surface.

gradual movements in the earth's crust of the giant pieces or plates of the earth's crust

a theory formulated in the 1960s that states that the crust of the Earth is composed of a number of tectonic plates that move in response to upper mantle convection. At the margins of these plates there is considerable tectonic, volcanic or seismic activity.

term geologists use to describe the study of the movement of the plates under the earth's crust. Most plates are composed of two parts: ocean floor and continental crust prospect: to explore or search

geological theory whereby the earth's crust and the upper mantle is divided into seven large and a few tens of small plates, which float on the middle mantle and much of the earth's seismic and volcanic activity occurs at convergent (see Convergence) or divergent (see Divergence) boundaries of these plates.

The theory that the earth's crust is broken into about 10 fragments (plates,) which move in relation to one another, shifting continents, forming new ocean crust, and stimulating volcanic eruptions.

The theory that the Earth's outer shell is made up of about a dozen lithospheric plates that move about and interact at their boundaries. more details...

A theory of global tectonics in which the lithosphere is divided into a number of plates whose pattern of horizontal movement is that of torsionally rigid bodies that interact with one another at their boundaries, causing seismic and tectonic activity along these boundaries.

The theory that the Earth's surface is made up of huge plates that have moved very slowly during geological history, and continue to move, thus changing the position of continent and oceans. The plates are about 100 kilometres thick and move at a rate of about 1-12 centimetres per year. (See also continental drift.)

The movement of the plates that make up the surface of the Earth. The revolutionary paradigm in geology that the earth's crust is composed of rigid segments (plates) in constant (although considered slow in a human-scale time frame) motion (tectonics) relative to each other.

The theory that the Earth's crust and upper mantle (the lithosphere) is broken into a number of more or less rigid, but constantly moving, segments or plates.

The theory that the earth's crust is composed of a number of individual plates that move in response to convection in the upper mantle. Margins of plates are sites of considerable geologic activity. Plate tectonics explains how continents drift and oceans open and close.

A theory that the Earth's surface is made up of large plates that are continuously moving and that interactions among the plates at their borders cause most major geologic activity

the concept or theory that Earth's crust or outermost layer is fragmented into a dozen or more large and small rigid plates that are moving relative to one another as they ride atop hotter, more mobile material.

theory that the Earth's lithosphere is broken into large, rigid sections or plates that move horizontally across Earth.

a geological model in which the Earth's lithosphere (crust and upper most mantle) is divided into a number of more-or-less rigid segments which move in relation to one another.

is the concept that Earth's crust is composed of rigid plates that move over a less rigid interior. The movements of these plates cause geological events such as earthquakes and continental drift, and over long periods of time, can cause significant shifts in Earth's land masses.

The widely accepted theory that the lithosphere of the Earth is divided into a series of semi-rigid plates which move relative to each other. The formation, movement and destruction of the plates at their margins explain the nature and distribution of earthquake and volcanic activity

Plate tectonics is the now-established theory that chunks of the Earth's crust (plates) float on the surface and change both position and size over time.

A theory that ties together many observations made about the activity and movement of Earth's crust (earthquakes, volcanoes) and creation of ocean basins. Plate tectonics divides the surface of the globe into a number of rigid plates that move around the earth's surface over the period of millions of years.

The geologic theory that Earth's crust is composed of rigid plates that "float" toward or away from each other, either directly or indirectly, shifting continents, forming mountains and new ocean crust, and stimulating volcanic eruptions.

A theory supported by a wide range of evidence that considers the earth's crust and upper mantle to be composed of several large, thin, relatively rigid plates that move relative to one another. Slip on faults that define the plate boundaries commonly results in earthquakes. Several styles of faults bound the plates, including thrust faults along which plate material is subducted or consumed in the mantle, oceanic spreading ridges along which new crustal material is produced, and transform faults that accommodate horizontal slip (strike slip) between adjoining plates.

displacement mechanism of lithosphere fragments ( oceanic crust and continental crust) under the action of mantle convection currents. The lithosphere deformations induced by plate tectonics create various geotectonic sites.

a theory that large "plates" of the Earth's colder, upper crustal rocks are capable of moving slowly (like rafts) on top of deeper, hotter, and more fluid rocks in the mantle. Geologists have identified seven large plates and 11 or more smaller ones on the Earth's surface.

the study of the movement of large crustal plates (lithospheric plates) of the Earth's shell. The earth's shell is broken into several pieces (12 large ones and several smaller ones). These plates move toward and away from one another at about the rate our fingernails grow. The process that creates the dynamic movement of the plates includes the convection of magma in the mantle and lithosphere. Plate tectonics helps to explain continental drift, seafloor spreading, volcanic eruptions and other geothermal phenomena, earthquakes, mountain formation and the distribution of some plant and animal species.

The scientific theory that the earth's lithosphere is divided into plates (or semi-rigid sections) which move horizontally and interact with one another, causing the formation of mountains, folds, faults, volcanoes, earthquakes, ocean trenches, and the mid-oceanic ridges.