What exactly is a tectonic plate? More than just the crust, each plate is a slice of the lithosphere, a rigid layer of Earth that includes the crust and part of the upper mantle. Understanding this distinction is key to understanding how Earth’s dynamic surface evolves over time. | EarthScope Consortium

The continents and ocean basins are in constant motion due to plate tectonics. This animation shows the plate tectonic evolution of the Earth during the last 540 million years. Modern countries are shown in shads of brown and tan. The age of the ocean floor is show in colors that range from blue (oldest) to red (youngest). The age in millions of years is shown in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. The geologic period is shown in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. Text and animation

These animations illustrate several key elements of plate tectonics and show examples of how Earth's tectonic plates have moved over time. Watch Pangea split apart and form the modern continents, see mountains form in western North America and watch India collide with Asia. Animations created by Christopher R. Scotese, PALEOMAP Project/Northwestern University, and Ben A. van der Pluijm, University of Michigan. Read more about plate tectonics here: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/