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
The plate tectonics homepage
Introduction to tectonics
Plate Tectonics
Interesting video about tsunamisInteresting video about tsunamis