Tectonics

Tectonics refers to the movement and interaction of the Earth's crustal plates. In oceanography, this process shapes ocean basins, creates underwater mountain ranges, and triggers earthquakes and volcanic activity. The Earth's outer shell is divided into several large and small plates that float on the semi-fluid mantle beneath. As these plates move due to heat from the Earth's interior, they can pull apart, collide, or slide past each other, influencing the geography of the ocean floor and affecting ocean currents, marine ecosystems, and overall climate patterns.