Beneath our feet there are dozens of fragments of lithosphere that constantly interact with each other to release the energy that is generated in those regions. A kind of dance in the bowels of the Earth causes great activity in the lithosphere, which is the upper layer of our planet. These fragments of lithosphere constantly move, colliding with each other, giving way to new features on the surface such as mountain ranges and volcanoes. Around the entire globe there are a handful of plates, so for those curious about terrestrial anatomy it is important to know which are the most important tectonic plates on Earth.
what are tectonic plates?
A tectonic plate or a lithospheric plate is a relatively rigid fragment of lithosphere that experiences movements above the asthenosphere, that is, the upper mantle. The entire lithosphere, which encompasses the Earth’s crust and the outermost region of the mantle (the most rigid regions of the Earth), is divided into tectonic plates.
There are large main plates and others of smaller sizes. In total, it has been detected that the lithosphere is divided into seven large plates and more than forty smaller microplates. The largest ones that are located in continental regions are named after the continent they support, such as the North American or Antarctic Plate. However, there are other large plates that are equally important.
In total, all these plates make up the lithosphere, which, as we have already mentioned, refers to the most solid layer of the Earth that includes both the crust and part of the upper mantle. The rock currents that are located below this delimitation also have activity since they are softer and are responsible for pushing the rigid plates. This results in seismic activity and also volcanic activity, for its part, is the result of the interaction of the edges when the plates approach or separate.
Main land plates
It can be said that the main plates, those of larger size, are:
North American
South American
From Pacific
African
Eurasian
Australian
Antarctica
Although it should be noted that there are many other large plates, although these are the most important. It is also known that there are other microplates that are also part of the lithosphere, although these are more difficult to name due to their quantity.
Types of tectonic plates
These large fragments of lithosphere are classified into mainly two types, these being oceanic and mixed plates:
oceanic plates
These are the densest and most extensive, since they occupy most of the planetary territory. We must remember that the Earth is made up mostly of . These plates are covered by the oceanic crust, so the vast majority are submerged in water in what is called the ocean floor.
mixed plates
As its name indicates, it refers to those that share both the terrestrial and oceanic crust. In number they exceed the oceanic plates, although it must also be emphasized that their size is smaller compared to the latter.
Tectonic plate movements
As we can already imagine, the movement between plates is of utmost importance for tectonic theory to explain the dynamics between the fragments of lithosphere and in this way, determine the phenomena they produce.
Divergent movement
It refers to those that separate the plates and that in turn generate faults, long holes in the earth of great extent. In addition, they are also responsible for creating underwater mountain chains.
Convergent movement
On the contrary, it involves the joining of the plates. It is a type of sliding between two plates, where the thinner one sinks below the thicker one, generating in the process the large mountain chains that can be seen on the Earth’s surface.
The dynamics of the Earth are much more complex than we have yet managed to decipher. Today we know how the lithosphere is structured and the way in which it has fragmented over millions of years to give the geological structure that we now know. However, processes are brewing under our feet that are not yet fully understood, although we are on the way to deciphering the secrets that lie in the bowels of the Earth.