The Role of Plate Tectonics in Mountain Building

Linear Mountain Chains

线性山脉

The existence of linear mountain chains on the Earth makes the Earth unique in the solar system. Although there is volcanism on Venus and Mars and on some of the larger moons, there is no evidence of linear mountain chains. Linear mountains suggest the movement of a plate boundary and the existence of active plate tectonics .

地球上存在线性山脉这一特征使其在太阳系中独树一帜。尽管金星和火星以及一些大卫星上也存在火山活动，但没有线性山脉的证据。线性山脉表明板块边界运动以及活跃的板块构造的存在。

The process of mountain building involved with such chains involves a convergent boundary between two plates. One of the most dramatic ranges on the Earth is the Himalayan range. There is nothing comparable to it in the remainder of the solar system.

山脉的形成过程涉及这样的山脉带，这是两个板块之间的汇聚边界。地球上最壮观的山脉带之一是喜马拉雅山脉。在太阳系的其余部分中，没有什么能与之相比。

Plate Boundaries

板块边界

From studies of volcanism and the structures of mountain chains, maps have been made of the apparent plates associated with plate tectonics on the Earth.

从火山活动和山脉链的结构研究中，已绘制出与板块构造相关的地球上的板块地图。

http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/slabs.html

这张图来自美国地质调查局，http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/slabs.html 。

Mountain Building

山脉形成

Studies of the mountain ranges and the mapping of plate boundaries associated with plate tectonics give us a picture of the process of mountain building. A unique feature of the Earth in the solar system is the presence of linear mountain ranges caused by the convergent boundary of two tectonic plates.

对山脉和板块边界的研究，以及与板块构造相关的山脉形成过程的测绘，为我们提供了关于山脉形成的图景。地球在太阳系中一个独特之处是，由两个板块的汇聚边界所导致的线性山脉的存在。

An example of the building of a coastal mountain range by subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate near the west coast of the U.S. (Information and illustrations from USGS)

由 Juan de Fuca 板块在北美西海岸的俯冲作用所形成的海岸山脉的一个例子（信息和插图来自 USGS）

The collision of India into Asia 50 million years ago caused the Eurasian Plate to crumple up and override the Indian Plate. After the collision, the slow continuous convergence of the two plates over millions of years pushed up the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau to their present heights.

5000万年前印度板块与亚洲板块的碰撞使欧亚板块向上褶皱并俯冲到印度板块之上。碰撞之后，两个板块在数百万年中缓慢持续的汇聚作用将喜马拉雅山脉和青藏高原推升到目前的高度。