Global Thermostat全球恒温器
As part of the surprising importance of plate tectonics for the sustaining of the conditions necessary for life, it appears to act as a global thermostat. 作为板块构造对维持生命所需条件的惊人重要性之一，它似乎起到了全球性的温度调节器作用。
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Index References: Ward and Brownlee Ch 9 索引参考：Ward和Brownlee第9章 | ||
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The Promotion of Diversity多样性的发展
The continental drift associated with plate tectonics changes the environment for the life forms. This is thought to have promoted the diversification of species, and that diversity is one of the strongest defenses against extinction. 板块构造引起的大陆漂移改变了生物的生存环境。人们认为这促进了物种的多样化，而这种多样性是抵御灭绝的最强防线之一。
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Index References: Ward and Brownlee Ch 9 索引参考：Ward和Brownlee第9章 | ||
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The Effect of Sea Level Changes海平面变化的影响
The model of plate tectonics in its role as mountain and continent builder preserves the range of altitudes above the sea level. Without this role, the mountains would eventually erode down. It has been suggested that sea level changes can contribute to an effective global thermostat by exposing more carbonates at the sea's edge and contributing carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. 板块构造模型在作为山脉和大陆建造者的作用中，保留了海平面以上的高度范围。如果没有这一作用，山脉最终会因侵蚀而降低。有人提出，海平面的变化可以通过在海岸线暴露更多的碳酸盐并向大气中释放二氧化碳，从而对全球 thermostat 产生有效作用。
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Index References: Ward and Brownlee Ch 9 索引参考：Ward和Brownlee第9章 | ||
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Continent Forming大陆形成
Since the continents have provided the greatest diversity of life, it can be argued that the role of plate tectonics in building continents is a favorable one for life on the Earth. 由于大陆提供了最大的生物多样性，可以认为板块构造在形成大陆中的作用对地球上的生命是有利的。
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Index References: Ward and Brownlee Ch 9 索引参考：Ward和Brownlee第9章 | ||
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The Conditions for a Planetary Magnetic Field行星磁场的条件
The basic structure of the Earth, aided by plate tectonics, makes possible the Earth's magnetic field. Neither Venus nor Mars has such a magnetic field. Venus has core and molten regions like the Earth, but a very slow rate of rotation. It produces neither plate tectonics or a magnetic field. Mars has volcanism, but limited to a small number of spectacularly large volcanoes like Olympus Mons. It's magnetic field is weak despite a rotation period similar to that of the Earth. This suggests that the molten nature of the Earth's mantle that facilitates plate tectonics is also essential for the operation of the dynamo that produces the magnetic field. 地球的基本结构，加上板块构造的作用，使得地球能够产生磁场。金星和火星都没有这样的磁场。金星有类似地球的核心和熔融区域，但自转速度非常缓慢。它既没有板块构造，也没有磁场。火星有火山活动，但仅限于少数几个壮观的巨大火山，如奥利希斯山。尽管火星的自转周期与地球相似，但其磁场却很弱。这表明，使地球 mantle 熔融以促进板块构造的性质，也是产生磁场的 dynamo 所必需的。
The Earth's magnetic field is a strong protective influence against bombardment by the high energy charged particles that we call cosmic rays. As such high speed particles approach the Earth, they are deflected by the magnetic force, which reduces the irradiation of the Earth's surface. 地球的磁场是对高能带电粒子（我们称之为宇宙射线） bombardment 的强保护作用。因此，当这些高速粒子接近地球时，它们会被磁场力偏转，从而减少对地球表面的辐射。
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Index References: Ward and Brownlee Ch 9 索引参考：Ward和Brownlee第9章 | ||
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