Even though plates move very slowly, their motion, called plate tectonics , has a huge impact on our planet. Plate tectonics form the oceans, continents, and mountains. It also helps us understand why and where events like earthquakes occur and volcanoes erupt.
How do plate tectonics affect life on Earth?
Plate tectonics plays a key role in the carbon cycle and in determining the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. … These volcanoes release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thereby replenishing the same. Thus, the carbon cycle acts as the base for sustaining life on Earth.
