Weathering and Types of Weathering
Weathering is the breakage and detachment of the sediments, particles, and granules from the surface of rocks. Weathering is a continuous and regular process, which is composed of many underlying…
What is the Theory of Seafloor Spreading
What is the Theory of Seafloor Spreading? The theory of seafloor spreading was first proposed by Harold Hemmond Hess in 1960. the two fundamental facts that led him to postulate…
Convection Currents in the Mantle
The flow of high heat associated with oceanic ridges proves the existence of “Convection Currents in the Mantle”. These currents are believed to be responsible for the movement of crustal…
Theory of Plate Tectonics
The theory of Plate Tectonics has evolved from Harry Hess’s concept of “seafloor spreading”. He proposed this concept in the early 1960s. Hess’s hypothesis was accepted when Vine and Mathews…
What is Continental Drift?
The theory of continental drift was presented by a German geologist, Alfred Wegener in 1910. He suggested that at the beginning of the Mesozoic era (200 million years ago), all…
What is Isostasy?
Isostasy C.E Dutton, in 1889, suggested that a gravitational balance exists between the elevated masses (i.e. continents) and ocean basin of the earth’s crust. It is believed that the lithosphere…
Mantle Convection
The mantle is a layered part of the earth, which is located just beneath the crustal layer of the earth. The Earth’s crustal surface (lithosphere) rides atop the asthenosphere. The…
Interior structure and composition of the Earth
The knowledge about the interior structure and composition of the earth has a long history. Before seismic tomography, scientists knew very little about the interior of the earth. The study…
Common Radiometric Methods
What is radioactive decay? Radioactive elements continuously release their protons and neutrons and form new daughter products. The radioactive elements are often known as the “parent”, and the element resulting…