Interactive Plate Tectonics Animations and Maps

I like to show students animations of concepts and processes as I am explaining them. Links to online animations can easily be included in PowerPoint presentations. This week's resource is a site that offers the type of animations that I like to use. The site is a product of Scripp' Institute of Oceanography, and it has some nice interactive animations related to plate tectonics. CLICK HERE to see an animation of sea-floor spreading. An icon in the upper right of the animation screen enables you to cause magnetic reversals as you are explaining it. There are some good questions for discussion below the animation.

The site also features an interesting Summary Map that illustrates several aspects of plate tectonics. Menu choices near the top allow you to chose what appears on the map.

Another interactive map allows you to view the position of the continents at various times during the past 600 mya. CLICK HERE to see it. To view a list of everything else the site has to offer, CLICK HERE.

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.