The Solid Earth: Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards

Describe the layered internal structure of the Earth (crust, mantle, core).

Trace the development of plate tectonic theory from continental drift to seafloor spreading.

Describe the three types of plate boundaries (convergent, divergent, transform) and their associated geologic features.

Explain the causes of earthquakes, their measurement (magnitude and intensity), and their relationship to plate boundaries.

Explain the mechanisms of volcanism, types of volcanoes, and their relationship to plate boundaries.

Analyze the global distribution of tectonic hazards such as earthquakes and volcanoes.