Climate Change - Plate Tectonics

• Theory of Plate Tectonics - Continental Drift

• Earths outer shell is composed of plates -->

• they move at a rate of about 3 cm per year

• affect of more land at higher latitudes:

  • alter ocean currents and therefore heat transport

  • alter global atmospheric circulation

  • more glaciers over land, higher albedo, cooler temps.

• plate movement also generates more volcanic activity

  • hence, when the plates are on the move, have more volcanic eruptions -> emit more CO₂ into atmosphere

  • this would cause global temps to rise.

  • if there is little movement, volcanic activity decreases -> so CO₂ concentrations are lower in the atmosphere -> avg temp decreases