The theory of plate tectonics has not always been accepted in the scientific community. The theory would derive from Alfred Wegener and his theory would initially be known as continental drift. It would serve as the basis for the theory of plate tectonics. Evidence that the continental plates were moving and not static began to accumulate in the early 20th century. Geologists around the world have presented circumstantial evidence that the continents were once joined. Some of this evidence included the very shape of America, Europe, and Africa. In particular, it almost seemed as if the continents fit together like a puzzle. Furthermore, there was evidence that the fossils and rock layers on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean were similar. However, this evidence alone was not enough to solidify an explanation for such a grandiose claim. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the best pieces of evidence that would come to light to support this theory was seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading occurs when magma is pushed up from within the earth, underwater, at a particular ridge, a common example being the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This molten rock forming new underwater formations would have been forced to either side as yet more molten rock continued to pour out. To explain where this new material was if the Earth was continually growing, there must be something consuming the older earth. This has been explained by seduction, in which one plate moves under another due to forces such as gravity and magnetism. This occurs in areas known as subduction zones and in the particular geological feature where actual subduction occurs between plates. Evidence used to support this theory includes the dating of multiple ridges protruding from ridges such as the Mid-Atlantic. It turned out that the further away from the center of the Atlantic, horizontally, the older the underwater formations were. This helped reinforce the idea that new material rose up and out of the central ridge and pushed older material outward, which would later be subducted and recycled. The forces of plate tectonics have shaped California's landform in many ways. The major tectonic plates that most influence California are the North American and Pacific plates. One plate that was subducted millions of years ago was the Farallon plate. When it was subducted beneath the North American plate, it created a volcanic chain on the eastern edge of California. This would eventually form the Sierra Nevada. The San Andreas Fault system also played an important role in the development of California's landforms. This is where the Pacific and North American plates slide past each other like a strike-slip fault. Regions such as the Basin & Range contain remnants of volcanic activity in the form of sediments deposited in the Central Valley and other southern regions millions of years ago. This helped California's fertility. The main factors that determine the extent of damage from an earthquake are: The magnitude of the earthquake. It is read on the Richter scale to determine how strong the earthquake is. So how far is a given area from the epicenter; or area directly above the exact point where an earthquake originates underground (hypocenter), the population density of an affected area. Logically it follows that areas of higher density have more victims and probably have more structures overall that could be affected by the earthquake...