Describes plate tectonics and how they cause earthquakes and volcanoes, and discusses how scientists study the nature of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The devastation wrought by earthquakes and volcanoes often obscures the fact that these destructive forces are also some of the most creative on the planet birthing mountains and other land forms. With detailed diagrams outlining the structure of continental and oceanic crust and the distribution of major plate motion, this book introduces readers to the range of activity that can shape or decimate an entire region. Descriptions of famous earthquakes and volcanoes help contextualize the staggering power of the Earth’s motion.

In this adventurous title, readers learn all about plate tectonics! A brief history of Alfred Wegener's theory of continental drift introduces readers to the development of plate tectonics and how it helped form the Earth we know today. Through colorful images, helpful charts and graphs, and easy-to-read text, readers will discover such fascinating topics as magnetic pole reversal, divergent and convergent plate boundaries, the ocean-continental division, and the San Andreas Fault. A captivating lab activity is featured to encourage children to further explore geology!

We live on Earth's crust, but there are other layers beneath the crust. They are the mantle and the outer and inner core. In 1915, scientist Alfred Wegener said that about 200 million years ago, Earth once had a single landmass. Hot, molten magma under the surface of the crust pushed the plates apart at a crack in Earth's crust and, eventually, the landmass was split apart and continents were formed. Wegener's work led to the study of plate tectonics.

The theory of plate tectonics transformed earth science. The hypothesis that the earth’s outermost layers consist of mostly rigid plates that move over an inner surface helped describe the growth of new seafloor, confirm continental drift, and explain why earthquakes and volcanoes occur in some places and not others. Lynn R. Sykes played a key role in the birth of plate tectonics, conducting revelatory research on earthquakes. In this book, he gives an invaluable insider’s perspective on the theory’s development and its implications. Sykes combines lucid explanation of how plate tectonics revolutionized geology with unparalleled personal reflections. He entered the field when it was on the cusp of radical discoveries. Studying the distribution and mechanisms of earthquakes, Sykes pioneered the identification of seismic gaps—regions that have not ruptured in great earthquakes for a long time—and methods to estimate the possibility of quake recurrence. He recounts the various phases of his career, including his antinuclear activism, and the stories of colleagues around the world who took part in changing the paradigm. Sykes delves into the controversies over earthquake prediction and their importance, especially in the wake of the giant 2011 Japanese earthquake and the accompanying Fukushima disaster. He highlights geology’s lessons for nuclear safety, explaining why historic earthquake patterns are crucial to understanding the risks to power plants. Plate Tectonics and Great Earthquakes is the story of a scientist witnessing a revolution and playing an essential role in making it.

People throughout time have attempted to make sense of the earth, why there are earthquakes, how rocks are formed, and more. Earth, before people came to be and since, has a rich history. This book takes a look at some of the early scientific and cultural beliefs about the Earth and how discoveries have shaped our modern culture.

Discusses plate tectonics, the theory that the surface of the earth is always moving, and the connection of this phenomenon to earthquakes and volcanoes.