Surface Features of the Earth

This image shows the topography, or shape, of the Earth's surface, on land and below the oceans. Mountain ranges, subduction trenches, tectonic plates, and mid-ocean ridges are all visible in the image. Click on image for full size version with these features identified.(637K GIF) Image from: U.S. Geological Survey

This image of the surface of the Earth shows the North and South American continents, as well as the floor of the Pacific Ocean. As can be seen in the image, the ocean floor shows evidence of

• mid-ocean spreading ridges
• individual volcanic island formation.
• subduction

The continental regions show evidence of

• volcanoes (a portion of the "Pacific Rim of Fire")
• non-volcanic mountain ranges
• island arcs
• faulting.

(Click on the image to see labeled examples of these features.)

These things provide evidence that, unlike other planets, the surface of the Earth is in motion. Motion of the Earth's surface is called plate tectonics.

Compare this active surface with that of Venus, Mars, or Europa.