Full View

Contents of 12.7 How do we know ... that plates move in real time?

12.7 How do we know ... that plates move in real time?

• Do plates move as theory predicts?
• Can we measure the slow, 1-10 cm/yr, movement of plates?
• Problem: How do we measure the motion of lithospheric plates when all the plates are moving?
• Relative motion: the perceived difference of velocities between moving bodies.
• Absolute motion: the "actual" velocity of a given thing irrespective of motions around it.