plate tectonics
[/pleɪt tɛkˈtɑnɪks/]
noun
tectônica de placas
1. The scientific theory that describes the large-scale motions of Earth's lithosphere, explaining continental drift, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation through the movement of rigid tectonic plates.
Plate tectonics explains why earthquakes occur more frequently along tectonic plate boundaries.
A tectônica de placas explica por que os terremotos ocorrem com mais frequência ao longo dos limites das placas tectônicas.
2. The study or field of geology that analyzes the structure and dynamics of Earth's crust divided into moving plates.
She specialized in plate tectonics and earthquake prediction.
Ela se especializou em tectônica de placas e previsão de terremotos.
Plate tectonics is a fundamental concept in modern geology education in both Brazil and the United States. In Brazil, it is typically introduced in secondary school earth science (Ciências da Terra) and is essential for understanding the country's geological features, including the Amazon basin and coastal mountain ranges. In the USA, it is a cornerstone concept in earth science curricula. The theory revolutionized geological understanding in the 1960s and remains central to explaining natural disasters and geological phenomena.
Related Idioms & Phrases
riding the plates - moving with tectonic shifts (metaphorical)
plate boundary - area of geological interaction (technical phrase)
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