The Earth Movements

The Earth Movements

The lithosphere is broken into a number of plates known as the Lithospheric plates. Each plate, oceanic or continental moves independently over the asthenosphere. The movement of the Earth’s lithospheric plates is termed as tectonic movements. The energy required to move these plates is produced by the internal heat of the earth. These plates move in different directions at different speed.

At places, these plates move away from each other creating wide rifts on the earth’s surface. At some places, these plates come closer and collide. When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate, the denser oceanic plate is forced below the continental plate. As a result of the pressure from above the rocks heats up and melt. The molten rocks rise again forming volcanic mountains along the continental edge. Alternatively, a trench may be formed between two plates. In some cases when two continental plates converge, neither plate can be forced under the other. Instead, folds may be created. Great mountain ranges like the Himalayas have been formed in this way.

Asthenosphere - The asthenosphere is the part of the mantle that flows and moves the plates of the earth.

The movement of these plates causes changes on the surface of the earth. The earth movements are divided on the basis of the forces which cause them. The forces which act in the interior of the earth are called as Endogenic forces and the forces that work on the surface of the earth are called as Exogenic forces.

Endogenic forces sometimes produce sudden movements and at the other times produce slow movements. Sudden movements like earthquakes and volcanoes cause mass destruction over the surface of the earth.