Plate tectonics (from the Late Latin tectonicus, from the Greek: "pertaining to

building")[1] is a scientific theory describing the large-scale motion of 7 large plates and the
movements of a larger number of smaller plates of the Earth's lithosphere, over the last hundreds of
millions of years. The theoretical model builds on the concept of continental drift, an idea developed
during the first few decades of the 20th century. The geoscientific community accepted plate-tectonic
theory after seafloor spreading was validated in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The lithosphere, which is the rigid outermost shell of a planet (the crust and upper mantle), is broken
up into tectonic plates. The Earth's lithosphere is composed of seven or eight major plates
(depending on how they are defined) and many minor plates. Where the plates meet, their relative
motion determines the type of boundary: convergent, divergent, ortransform. Earthquakes, volcanic
activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trenchformation occur along these plate boundaries. The
relative movement of the plates typically ranges from zero to 100 mm annually.[2]

Tectonic plates are composed of oceanic lithosphere and thicker continental lithosphere, each
topped by its own kind of crust. Along convergent boundaries,subduction carries plates into
the mantle; the material lost is roughly balanced by the formation of new (oceanic) crust along
divergent margins by seafloor spreading. In this way, the total surface of the lithosphere remains the
same. This prediction of plate tectonics is also referred to as the conveyor belt principle. Earlier
theories, since disproven, proposed gradual shrinking (contraction) or gradual expansion of the
globe.[3]

Tectonic plates are able to move because the Earth's lithosphere has greater mechanical
strength than the underlyingasthenosphere. Lateral density variations in the mantle result
in convection. Plate movement is thought to be driven by a combination of the motion of the seafloor
away from the spreading ridge (due to variations in topography and density of the crust, which result
in differences in gravitational forces) and drag, with downward suction, at the subduction zones.
Another explanation lies in the different forces generated by tidal forces of the Sun and Moon. The
relative importance of each of these factors and their relationship to each other is unclear, and still
the subject of much debate.

Key principles
The outer layers of the Earth are divided into the lithosphere and asthenosphere. This is based on
differences inmechanical properties and in the method for the transfer of heat. Mechanically, the
lithosphere is cooler and more rigid, while the asthenosphere is hotter and flows more easily. In
terms of heat transfer, the lithosphere loses heat by conduction, whereas the asthenosphere also
transfers heat by convection and has a nearly adiabatic temperature gradient. This division should
not be confused with the chemical subdivision of these same layers into the mantle (comprising both
the asthenosphere and the mantle portion of the lithosphere) and the crust: a given piece of mantle
may be part of the lithosphere or the asthenosphere at different times depending on its temperature
and pressure.

The key principle of plate tectonics is that the lithosphere exists as separate and distinct tectonic
plates, which ride on the fluid-like (visco-elastic solid) asthenosphere. Plate motions range up to a
typical 1040 mm/year (Mid-Atlantic Ridge; about as fast as fingernails grow), to about 160 mm/year
(Nazca Plate; about as fast as hair grows).[4] The driving mechanism behind this movement is
described below.

Tectonic lithosphere plates consist of lithospheric mantle overlain by either or both of two types of
crustal material: oceanic crust (in older texts called sima from silicon and magnesium)
and continental crust (sial from silicon and aluminium). Average oceanic lithosphere is typically
100 km (62 mi) thick;[5] its thickness is a function of its age: as time passes, it conductively cools and
subjacent cooling mantle is added to its base. Because it is formed at mid-ocean ridges and spreads
outwards, its thickness is therefore a function of its distance from the mid-ocean ridge where it was
formed. For a typical distance that oceanic lithosphere must travel before being subducted, the
thickness varies from about 6 km (4 mi) thick at mid-ocean ridges to greater than 100 km (62 mi)
at subduction zones; for shorter or longer distances, the subduction zone (and therefore also the
mean) thickness becomes smaller or larger, respectively.[6] Continental lithosphere is typically
~200 km thick, though this varies considerably between basins, mountain ranges, and
stable cratonic interiors of continents.

The location where two plates meet is called a plate boundary. Plate boundaries are commonly
associated with geological events such as earthquakes and the creation of topographic features
such as mountains, volcanoes, mid-ocean ridges, andoceanic trenches. The majority of the world's
active volcanoes occur along plate boundaries, with the Pacific Plate's Ring of Fire being the most
active and widely known today. These boundaries are discussed in further detail below. Some
volcanoes occur in the interiors of plates, and these have been variously attributed to internal plate
deformation[7] and to mantle plumes.

As explained above, tectonic plates may include continental crust or oceanic crust, and most plates
contain both. For example, the African Plate includes the continent and parts of the floor of
the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The distinction between oceanic crust and continental crust is based
on their modes of formation. Oceanic crust is formed at sea-floor spreading centers, and continental
crust is formed through arc volcanism and accretion of terranes through tectonic processes, though
some of these terranes may contain ophiolite sequences, which are pieces of oceanic crust
considered to be part of the continent when they exit the standard cycle of formation and spreading
centers and subduction beneath continents. Oceanic crust is also denser than continental crust
owing to their different compositions. Oceanic crust is denser because it has less silicon and more
heavier elements ("mafic") than continental crust ("felsic").[8] As a result of this density stratification,
oceanic crust generally lies below sea level (for example most of the Pacific Plate), while continental
crust buoyantly projects above sea level (see the page isostasy for explanation of this principle).

Types of plate boundaries

Three types of plate boundaries exist,[9] with a fourth, mixed type, characterized by the way the
plates move relative to each other. They are associated with different types of surface phenomena.
The different types of plate boundaries are:[10][11]

Convergent boundary

1. Transform boundaries (Conservative) occur where two lithospheric plates slide, or perhaps
more accurately, grind past each other alongtransform faults, where plates are neither
created nor destroyed. The relative motion of the two plates is either sinistral (left side
toward the observer) or dextral (right side toward the observer). Transform faults occur
across a spreading center. Strong earthquakes can occur along a fault. The San Andreas
Fault in California is an example of a transform boundary exhibiting dextral motion.
2. Divergent boundaries (Constructive) occur where two plates slide apart from each other. At
zones of ocean-to-ocean rifting, divergent boundaries form by seafloor spreading, allowing
for the formation of new ocean basin. As the ocean plate splits, the ridge forms at the
spreading center, the ocean basin expands, and finally, the plate area increases causing
many small volcanoes and/or shallow earthquakes. At zones of continent-to-continent rifting,
divergent boundaries may cause new ocean basin to form as the continent splits, spreads,
the central rift collapses, and ocean fills the basin. Active zones of Mid-ocean ridges
(e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge and East Pacific Rise), and continent-to-continent rifting (such as
Africa's East African Rift and Valley, Red Sea) are examples of divergent boundaries.
3. Convergent boundaries (Destructive) (or active margins) occur where two plates slide toward
each other to form either a subduction zone (one plate moving underneath the other) or
a continental collision. At zones of ocean-to-continent subduction (e.g. the Andes mountain
range in South America, and the Cascade Mountains in Western United States), the dense
oceanic lithosphere plunges beneath the less dense continent. Earthquakes trace the path
of the downward-moving plate as it descends into asthenosphere, a trench forms, and as
the subducted plate is heated it releases volatiles, mostly water from hydrous minerals, into
the surrounding mantle. The addition of water lowers the melting point of the mantle material
above the subducting slab, causing it to melt. The magma that results typically leads to
volcanism.[12] At zones of ocean-to-ocean subduction (e.g. Aleutian islands, Mariana Islands,
and the Japanese island arc), older, cooler, denser crust slips beneath less dense crust.
This causes earthquakes and a deep trench to form in an arc shape. The upper mantle of
 the subducted plate then heats and magma rises to form curving chains of volcanic islands.
Deep marine trenches are typically associated with subduction zones, and the basins that
develop along the active boundary are often called "foreland basins". Closure of ocean
basins can occur at continent-to-continent boundaries (e.g., Himalayas and Alps): collision
between masses of granitic continental lithosphere; neither mass is subducted; plate edges
are compressed, folded, uplifted.
4. Plate boundary zones occur where the effects of the interactions are unclear, and the
boundaries, usually occurring along a broad belt, are not well defined and may show various
types of movements in different episodes.

Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several platesthat
glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard
and rigid shell compared to Earth's mantle. This strong outer layer is called the
lithosphere.

Major Plates

Africa Plate
Antarctic Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
Australian Plate
Eurasian Plate
North American Plate
South American Plate
Pacific Plate

Minor Plates
There are dozens of smaller plates, the seven largest of which are:

Arabian Plate
Caribbean Plate
Juan de Fuca Plate
Cocos Plate
Nazca Plate
Philippine Sea Plate
Scotia Plate
1. Know what youll face

Raining giant meatballs = probably unlikely.Part of preparation is knowing exactly what kind of disasters you might

face and knowing what to do in each situation. Living in Montana? You probably dont need to worry about

hurricanes. California? Better be ready for an earthquake, but dont overlook your chances of severe weather or

pandemic flu. If you cant think of all the possibilities, heres a handy list from the Red Cross. If you think you live in a

disaster-free zone, youre probably wrong.

2. Learn your areas evacuation routes and shelter locations

Graceful home evacuation.

The time to figure these things out isnt while a hurricane is bearing down on your home, or after a tsunami warning

has been issued. Evacuations are actually pretty common, so it will serve you well to know the details ahead of time.

You should also know the escape routes from your own home, including the more obscure ones, like out that ground-

level window in your bathroom. If you have kids, draw them a map and post it near their door. You should also plan

where your family willregroup if you must evacuate your house. Pick one location right outside your home, and one

outside the neighborhood, in case you must leave the area. Decide ahead of time where you would go in case of an

evacuation, whether its a friends or relatives house or a Red Cross shelter.

3. Know how youll reconnect with people who matter

Not a valid communication plan.

If cell networks arent working, you dont just need to worry about how your Netflix stream will be affected. Consider

how you will contact your family or your roommates. How will you let others know you are alright? Figuring this out

ahead of time can make everything so much easier in a difficult situation. The Red Cross recommends using an out-

of-area emergency contact to have family members check in with, since it may be easier to make long distance calls.

Everyone should also have a list of emergency contacts and local emergency numbers.

4. Sign up for emergency alerts and know how officials will communicate with you during a disaster
You can get these on your cell phone, if you havent disabled them already. We know the blaring noise overtaking the

silent mode on your phone can be annoying, but this is probably the best way to learn about emergencies if you are

constantly attached to your phone. The emergency alert system also broadcasts over the radio and television, and

NOAA weather radio can tell you if severe weather is expected 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tune in on social

media as well, but dont expect to rely on it exclusively as you may not keep your Internet connection in an

emergency.

5. Learn what to do if youre caught away from home

Obviously you may not be at home when disaster strikes. In the case of an unexpected emergency, you should be

prepared to react from different locations, including your workplace or car. Most of this is pretty basic stuff again,

know your evacuation routes, communication plan and how youll receive emergency notification. Have a plan for

reconnecting with kids who may be at school, daycare or after-school activities. Talk to schools to see how they will

communicate with families in an emergency, if they have a shelter-in-place plan and where they will go if they are

forced to evacuate.

6. Have a kit and know how to use it

Ok, were not talking full-on doomsday prepper status here. Were talking about some basic necessities. This includes

food, water, basic first aid supplies and other emergency equipment that you might already have (think flashlights and

duct tape). Check out this full list by FEMA for tips. The key is to have this assembled and ready to use, not scattered

all over your house. Make sure everything is in working orderand that no one sneaks snacks from your finished kit.

Some kits are available for purchase pre-packed, but remember, if you dont know how to use what you have, it could

be useless.

7. Keep in mind people who may need special preparation

Kids, infants, people with disabilities and seniors may all need special considerations while planning for an
emergency. If you or a family member need medication or special equipment, make sure you have a plan to bring it

with you. Talk to your neighbors about how you can help one another in a disaster, and check on each other in case

of an emergency.

8. Prepare for your pets

The goal of emergency preparedness is to keep the whole family safe and that includes our pets. If you need to

evacuate, you should never leave your pet behind. Try to evacuate to a friend or family members house, as pets may

not be allowed inside public shelters. Keep a pet emergency kit on hand with food and other important items. The

ASPCA recommends microchipping pets so they can be identified and returned to you even without tags (or you may

want to invest in a GPS tracker so you can find them yourself). The ASPCA app also helps you keep track of animal

records required to board pets at an emergency shelter and has other helpful tips for a variety of situations.

9. Learn emergency skills that can always come in handy

Note: Image does not represent proper use of a fire extinguisher.Make sure you know little things that can make a

huge difference, like how to use a fire extinguisher or perform basic first aid. Get trained in CPR or the even

simpler hands-only CPR, which could help save someones life even when you least expect it. You can also learn

how toshut off utilities in your house in case of a disaster that may damage gas, water or electrical lines.

10. Find out how to help your community during a disaster

Volunteer firefighters are trained to respond to all sorts of emergencies

Want to help out even more? Learn how you can be a community leaderduring a disaster or teach others how to be

prepared. Volunteerpositions with local emergency response agencies or nonprofits are available in a huge range of

capacities.

This is not a catch-all list. For more information visit ready.gov,redcross.org or your local emergency preparedness s

Impressionism in music was a movement among various composers in Western classical music, mainly during the
late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose music focuses on suggestion and atmosphere, "conveying the moods and
emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed tonepicture".[1]"Impressionism" is a philosophical and
aesthetic term borrowed from late 19th century French painting after Monet's Impression, Sunrise. Composers were
labeled impressionists by analogy to the impressionist painters who use starkly contrasting colors, effect of light on an
object blurry foreground and background, flattening perspective to make us focus our attention on the overall
impression.[2]

Impressionism in music was a movement among various composers in Western classical music,
mainly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose music focuses on suggestion and
atmosphere, "conveying the moods and emotions aroused by the subject rather than a detailed
tonepicture".

Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the
beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective,
distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas. [1][2] Expressionist artists sought
to express the meaning[3] of emotional experience rather than physical reality.[3][4]

Expressionism was developed as an avant-garde style before the First World War. It remained popular
during the Weimar Republic,[1] particularly in Berlin. The style extended to a wide range of the arts,
including expressionist architecture, painting, literature, theatre, dance, film and music.

Arnold Franz Walter Schoenberg or Schnberg (German: [anlt nbk] ( listen); 13 September
1874 13 July 1951) was an Austrian composer, music theorist, and painter. He was associated with
the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School. By
1938, with the rise of the Nazi Party, Schoenberg's works were labeled degenerate music, because he
was Jewish (Anon. 19972013). He moved to the United States in 1934.

Schoenberg's approach, both in terms of harmony and development, has been one of the most influential
of 20th-century musical thought. Many European and American composers from at least three
generations have consciously extended his thinking, whereas others have passionately reacted against it.

Achille-Claude Debussy (French: [ail klod dbysi],[1] 22 August 1862 25 March 1918), known since
the 1890s as Claude-Achille Debussy or Claude Debussy,[2] was a Frenchcomposer. He and Maurice
Ravel were the most prominent figures associated withImpressionist music, though Debussy disliked the
term when applied to his compositions.[3]He was made Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1903.[4] He
was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and his use of non-
traditional scales and chromaticism influenced many composers who followed.[5]

Debussy's music is noted for its sensory content and frequent usage of nontraditional tonalities. [6] The
prominent French literary style of his period was known as Symbolism, and this movement directly
inspired Debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. [7]