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  • Tectonic Plates: Understanding Earth's Moving Crustal Layers
    Large crustal plates moving on the surface are called tectonic plates.

    Here's a breakdown of the key terms:

    * Crustal plates: These are the outermost layer of the Earth, composed of the Earth's crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

    * Tectonic plates: These are large, irregularly shaped slabs of solid rock that make up the Earth's lithosphere. They move slowly over the asthenosphere, which is a semi-molten layer of the upper mantle.

    The movement of tectonic plates is responsible for many geological features, including:

    * Earthquakes: When plates collide or slide past each other, they release energy in the form of seismic waves, causing earthquakes.

    * Volcanoes: Magma, molten rock from the mantle, can rise to the surface at plate boundaries, creating volcanoes.

    * Mountain ranges: Collisions between tectonic plates can force rock upward, creating mountains.

    * Ocean trenches: When one plate subducts (slides beneath) another, it can create a deep trench in the ocean floor.

    Understanding tectonic plates is essential for understanding the Earth's dynamic geology.

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