plate tectonics

The theory of plate tectonics, developed in the 1960s, provides a unifying framework for understanding geological processes.板块构造学理论于20世纪60年代提出，为理解地质过程提供了一个统一的框架。

Plate tectonics explains the distribution of volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain ranges across the Earth's surface.板块构造学解释了地球表面火山、地震和山脉的分布。