Earth’s lithosphere is divided into plates that move slowly over the asthenosphere. Their interactions build mountains, open oceans, and generate earthquakes and volcanic arcs.
Subduction zones recycle crust into the mantle and can produce powerful megathrust earthquakes. Transform boundaries, like strike-slip faults, create different seismic hazards.
Studying plate motions combines GPS measurements, seismic imaging, and geological records to reconstruct Earth’s dynamic history.