Plötutektoník

Plötutektoník is the scientific theory that describes the large-scale motion of the Earth's lithosphere. The lithosphere, which is the rigid outer part of the Earth, consists of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. This outer shell is broken into several large and numerous smaller pieces called tectonic plates. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them and are constantly moving relative to each other.

The movement of these tectonic plates is driven by convection currents within the Earth's mantle. Hotter, less dense material rises from deeper within the mantle, spreads out beneath the lithosphere, cools, and then sinks back down. This circulation creates a drag on the underside of the tectonic plates, causing them to move.

The interactions between these moving plates at their boundaries are responsible for many of the Earth's major geological features and phenomena. Where plates move apart, new crust is formed, often creating mid-ocean ridges. Where plates collide, one plate can be forced beneath the other in a process called subduction, leading to the formation of volcanoes and deep ocean trenches. Earthquakes are also a common occurrence, particularly along plate boundaries, as the immense forces involved cause the rocks to fracture and slip. The theory of plate tectonics provides a unifying framework for understanding earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain building, and the distribution of continents and oceans.