Physics of the Earth System Lecture 14 of 18

July 25, 2012 by Abdelkrim Aoudia

A. Aoudia, ICTP

Lesson number 14 (A. Aoudia)

Plate tectonics and seismology

In this lesson the teacher continues the description of plate tectonics. Although the plates are made up of both oceanic and continental material, usually only oceanic part of any plate is created (at mid-ocean ridges) or destroyed (at subduction zones). Then the teacher describes the distribution of the seismicity (earthquake activity) of the earth, that outlines the plates very clearly because the majority of earthquakes occur along the plate boundaries.

After giving the definition of an earthquake, the teacher describes the propagation of seismic waves within the earth. Seismology (the study of earthquakes and the passage of seismic waves through the earth) can be used to study the earth's interior. One of the most widely used methodology to study the earth's interior is the "seismic tomography".

In the final part of the lesson the definition of tsunami is given, a water wave generated by earthquakes.

Some video lectures about plate tectonics and tsunamis

Some video lectures about plate tectonics and tsunamis

Plate tectonics - UCLA

Plate tectonics - UCLA

The plate tectonics homepage

The plate tectonics homepage

Introduction to tectonics

Introduction to tectonics

Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

Interesting video about tsunamisInteresting video about tsunamis

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