Floating Plates - STANDARDS

Structure of the Earth System

Constructive and destructive forces have combined to create landforms. Constructive forces include crustal deformation, volcanic eruption and deposition of sediment; destructive forces include weathering and erosion.

Lithospheric plates on the scales of continents and oceans constantly move at rates of centimeters per year in response to movements in the mantle. Major geological events, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and mountain building, result from these plate motions.

Earth's History

The earth processes we see today ó erosion, movement of lithospheric plates, and changes in atmospheric composition ó are similar to those that occurred in the past.