1 ILI NADIAH DZULFAKAR 20028609 Global Environmental Processes GEOG1020 The effects of plate tectonics on the earth’s climate. (2231 words) Introduction A landmark paper by scientists at the Lamont Geological Observatory, Columbia University in 1968 have reinforced Alfred Wagner's highly contested theory on plate tectonics (Chang, 2011) and contributed to the rapid acceptance of the idea. Scientists ever since has been building evidence linking the changes in lithosphere, the drifting and collisions of tectonics, as catalysts for a slow but huge transform in the earth's climate driver; the hydrosphere and atmosphere (Raymo & Ruddiman, 1992). Wright & Boorse (2011) postulates that the lithosphere, composed of crust and upper solid mantle, constitutes the rigid oceanic and continental plates, however, they "float" in extremely slow but constant motion on top of the "plastic rock" called Asthenosphere. Wright and Boorse pointed out that in response to the radioactive decay in the Earth's core, the thermal-transfer to the surface drives the convection characterizing Asthenosphere's ductility, defining the events at the plate margins: (i) convergent boundaries South America (Andes), India and Eurasia (Himalayas); (ii) divergent boundaries (Mid-Atlantic Ridge); (iii) transform boundaries (San Andreas Fault). Figure 1. Earth's progression from the breakup of Pangea and to the present day. Earth has eight major and dozens of minor plates. Source: Li, (2017); Thing Link (2015).