Success of Plate Tectonics

Provides a unifying framework within which to interpret many different geological and geophysical data. 1. 2. 3. 4. Global Distribution of Seismicity Depths of Earthquakes Global Distribution of Volcanism & Heat Flow Global Topographic Features

Global Topographic Features

Success of Plate Tectonics

Provides a unifying framework within which to interpret many different geological and geophysical data. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Global Distribution of Seismicity Depths of Earthquakes Global Distribution of Volcanism & Heat Flow Global Topographic Features Lack of Ocean Floor Sediments

L. 9

Success of Plate Tectonics

Provides a unifying framework within which to interpret many different geological and geophysical data. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Global Distribution of Seismicity Depths of Earthquakes Global Distribution of Volcanism & Heat Flow Global Topographic Features Lack of Ocean Floor Sediments Global Distribution of Minerals

Differential melting at subduction zones

Success of Plate Tectonics

Provides a unifying framework within which to interpret many different geological and geophysical data. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Global Distribution of Seismicity Depths of Earthquakes Global Distribution of Volcanism & Heat Flow Global Topographic Features Lack of Ocean Floor Sediments Global Distribution of Minerals Glaciation of Southern Continents

Glaciation of Southern Continents

Cold Cluster at the S. Pole

Glaciation of Continents at the South Pole

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Success of Plate Tectonics

Provides a unifying framework within which to interpret many different geological and geophysical data. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Global Distribution of Seismicity Depths of Earthquakes Global Distribution of Volcanism & Heat Flow Global Topographic Features Lack of Ocean Floor Sediments Global Distribution of Minerals Glaciation of Southern Continents Age of the Sea Floor
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Age of the Sea Floor

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GEOMAGNETISM
Physics of Magnetism Earths Magnetic Field - geomagnetism Paleomagnetism Ancient/past geomagnetism

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The Physics of Magnetism

All Magnetic Fields

are produced by moving electric charges

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Moving Electric Charges

Moving electrons,
protons, negatively charged ions, or

positively charged ions.

e.g. an electric current flowing in a wire. i
Electrons Electric current

e-

B
Magnetic Induction
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Magnetic field lines,

drawn such that:

B is locally parallel to magnetic field lines

|B| is inversely proportional to the spacing of magnetic field lines.
B

Magnetic Field about a wire carrying a current:

B

B is tangential to circles centred on the wire.

B
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Circular Nature of B about a strong current in a wire.

i

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Compass Needles align with direction of B.

Reverse current => Compass needles reverse directions

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Magnetic Dipole Vector sum of 4 smaller dipoles

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Magnetic Dipole Vector sum of many small dipoles

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Dipole Fields
Bar Magnet
north

Current Loops
north

Electric Dipole
positive source

sink south south negative

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Bar Magnet a magnetic dipole field

North

North

South

South
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Geomagnetic Dipole Field

SOUTH pole of Dipole field
Geomagnetic Equator

Equator

NORTH pole of Dipole field

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