Dynamic Planet Research Paper

Dynamic Planet is an amazing branch of science. From oceanography, to currents, to plate tectonics, all of the subtleties of the dynamic planet are unique in their own ways. Our Earth, itself, is a dynamic planet. The planet contains over one thousand volcanoes, forty thousand earthquakes, and almost two hundred impact craters. All of these features come from the Earth constantly being in motion. The Earth has powerful forces that are caused by nature. Most of which can’t be seen but felt because they are deep in our Earth’s oceans. To begin with diving into the depths of oceanography, one may ask themselves, “What is oceanography?” Oceanography is the study of the phenomena and properties of the deep sea. Chemistry, biology, physics …show more content…
The theory was developed in the 1960’s and the 1970’s, and oceanographers were gathering new information on the movement of our Planet. Earth’s outermost layer is proposed to be in seven different plates. There is the African plate, North American and South American plate, Eurasian, Australian, Arctic and Pacific Plate. There also other smaller boundaries such as the Philippines and the Scotia plates. The plates move all over the place, and the speed of the plates varies. Sometimes they can be as slow as two centimeters per year, and other times they can move as fast as ten centimeters per year. The area where the two plates meet with each other is called a boundary. There are three distinct ways these boundaries move with each other. One the three types are called convergent boundaries. Convergent boundaries are anywhere where the two areas of land move toward one another, causing collision. Most collisions created by convergent boundaries take last as long as a million years. A lot of times, subductions occurs from the collision of convergent boundaries. Subduction is the process in which the oceanic plate is pushed and forced toward the mantle of the Earth. As the oceanic plate subducts, the plate increases in temperature. After going as deep as one hundred miles, the plate then begins to melt. Magma chambers form as a result of the subduction, and over periods of …show more content…
There are many properties of a wave. The wave crest is the highest point of a wave and the wave through is the lowest point. The wave height is the vertical distance from the trough to the crest. Along with the many properties, there is also different types of ocean waves. Capillary waves are very tiny waves with wavelengths being 1.7 centimeters. When wind blows over water, these are the first waves to form. When the wind keeps blowing persistently, the capillary wave will become a wind wave. There are also standing waves, waves that move back and forth in a vertical position. The waves don't move like normal waves do, but they do have a visible crest and trough in a standing position. There are several instruments used for gathering information about oceanography. For example, Sonar, or Sound Navigation and Ranging systems are used to identify object in the deep sea. It is also used for determining water depth. Sound waves are emitted downwards and the bounce off the ocean floor and come back to the sonar system. Satellites are also sued for oceanography. Satellites are also used for identifying the characteristics and feature of Earth’s atmosphere. Oceanography is one of the few many branches of science. There is many things you can learn from this one subject. From waves, the tides, to sonar technology, the discoveries and knowledge is everlasting. We as humans have only studied