Plate Tectonics 15
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Complete list of Terms and Definitions for Plate Tectonics 15

Terms Definitions
Intensity strength
Sea-Floor Spreading ...
divergent new crust forms
Tension associated with divergent boundary
tsunamies produced by underwater earthquakes
Hess mapped the mid atlantic ridge
convergent boundary where plates come together
lava magma that reaches Earth's surface
Converge When one plate goes under another.
Rhyolite A fine-grained, felsic, igneous rock made up mostly of feldspar and quartz.
Two Number of centimeters the average plate moves in one year
Extrusive fine-grained igneous rock that forms when magma cools quickly at or near Earth's surface
rift valley a valley with steep sides
granite something having the quality of granite (unyielding firmness)
magnitude the measurement of an earthquake's strength based on siesmic waves and movement along faults
Subduction Process in which one crustal plate dives under another plate and is consumed back into the mantle.
Earth sources of energy Sun and earth's interior
trench deep valley, that has formed where SUBDUCTION has occurred
lithosphere The solid lower layer of the crust.
seismic waves vibrations that travel through earth carrying the energy released during a earthquake
aftershock a small earthquake that follows the main earthquake
rift a crack or opening in Earth's crust.
fault break in earth's crust along which movement occurs
Felsic Describes magma or igneous rock that is rich in feldspars and silica and that is generally light in color.
Alfred Wegener credited with the theory of Continental Drift
convergent boundary the boundary between tectonic plates that are colliding
Plate motion The unequal distribution of heat within Earth causes the thermal convection in the mantle that ultimately drives plate motion.
the sun what is an example of radiation?
Reason for continental drift. Occurs at the mid oc Seafloor spreading
4.6 billion years old How old is the earth?
Wave amplitude Wave amplitude is a more technical term for wave height and is used in engineering technology.
Subduction Zone the region where an oceanic plate sinks down into the asthenosphere at a convergent boundary, usually between continental and oceanic plates.
Composite volcano Tall cone shaped mountains in which layers of lava alternate with layers of ash.
conduction the transfer of heat from one particle of matter ot another
Intrusive a type of ingneous rock that generally contains large crystals and forms when magma cools slowly beneath Earth's surface.
Fractional Crystallization The process by which the crystals formed in a cooling magma are segregated from the remaining liquid at progressively lower temperatures.
ancient climates coal deposits have been found in antractica, glacial deposits have been found on africa, Indian, australia, and south america
wegeners evidence about rocks matching evidence along coasts, fossils the same, mesosaurus on both
Continental Drift The theory that all continents are fragments of Pangaea now drifting apart
Normal Fault one plate is moving down the other
plate tectonics the theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion driven by convection currents in the mantle
Mid-Ocean Ridge An underwater moutain chain where new ocean floor is formed
plate boundary where the edges of tectonic plates meet
Sea Floor Spreading plates spread, creating trench and allowing new crust to be created
.:Sliding:. .:This is what happens at a transform boundary, tw
Hot Spot an area where molten rock rises to Earth's surface.
Primary wave (p-wave) Wave which causes rock particles to move back and forth in the same direction the wave is traveling, the first wave to pass through after an earthquake
Unconformity When part of a rock layer is eroded and we no longer have a record of that time(wavy line)
Transform boundary formed when two plates grind past one another horizontally -> <-
Fractional crystalization method used to separate a mixture of solids that have the same solubility at room temperature.
convergent plate boundary A region where plates are pushing together and where a mountain range, island arc, and/or trench will eventually form; often a site of much seismic and volcanic activity.
asthenosphere the soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats
Outer core Layer that is made of liquid and nickel that moves to produce Earth's magnetic field
what is the lithosphere? outer layer of earths structure includes the crust and and upper mantle, major component in plate tectonic movement
Earth's Magnetic Field Caused by the liquid outer core and makes the planet act like a giant bar magnet.
how old is the oldest continental rock? 3.9 billion years old
The Curtain of Fire earth opens up and magma spews hundreds of feet in the air (Mr.Pavlik thinks this would be a good band name)
Hanging Wall The block of rock that lies above an inclined fault
transformed plate boundary when two plates are next to each sliding away. This creates a fault line. was the crust cant take any more of this movement it will create an earthquake.
Theory of Plate Tectonics Earth's lithosphere is made up of huge plates that move over the surface of the Earth.
how can you determine a tectonic plates speed distance divided by the time
What are the minerals that make up the mantle? Magnesium, iron, and calcium
how does seafloor spreading occur? Magma below the crust is forced up at the mid-ocea
Divergent Boundary ...
Pangaea means all land/earth
Laurasia Northern part of Pangaea
Mantle Where convection currents flow
Continental Crust Solid, 25-25 (45)miles thick
volcanic mountains Mountains formed by volcanoes.
Harry Hess Developed the theory sea-floor spreading ocean floors move like conveyor belts, carrying the continents along with them
Landform feature of Earth's surface (examples: mountains, valley, hill, plain, mesa)
core the central part of the Earth
divergent plate boundary mid Atlantic ridge. lithospheric plates are pulling apart then magma wells up from the asthenosphere through the cracks created by tensional forces, a new lithosphere is created , rifting occurs
landform that always forms above a subduction zone when magma from a melting plate rises volcano
terrane a large block of lithospheric plate that has been moved, often a distance of thousands of kilometers, and attached to the edge of a continent.
volcano created when one plate moves under another
Epicenter the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
Which is thicker, continental plates or oceanic plates? continental plates
Convection the movement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations, can result in the transfer of energy as heat
active volcano volcano that is currently erupting, showing signs that it's going to erupt, or erupted at any time during recorded history
oceanic is oceanic or continental crust more dense?
What occurs when an oceanic plate slides under a c Subduction
seismic wave a vibration that travels through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
crust the layer of rock that forms Earth's surface
Transform plate boundary Places where crustal plates shear laterally past one another. Crust is neither produced nor destroyed at this type of junction.
Plates large pieces of earths crust that move due to convection currents
Footwall The half of the fault that lies below.
Seafloor Spreading New seafloor formed when magma is forced upward toward the surface at a mid-ocean ridge where two plates are pulling apart.
Earthquake magnitude measure of ground shaking during and earthquake, which depends of distance from epicenter and the geological material.
mountain chains rise when the Earth's surface buckles due to tectonic plate movement
techtonic plate plates are in motion and continually changing i shape and size 5cm/yr
Body waves seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior
Ring of Fire Pacific Ocean subduction zone, large volcanic mountains, likely to erupt
basalt A dark, dense, igneous rock with a fine texture, found in oceanic crust
Contenintal Crust Mostly granite, thicker and less dense crust
The theory that all the continents used to be join continental drift
converging plate boundary when plates come into each other (subduction zone)
Shield Volcanoes largest volcano type, forms on top of hot spots, less explosive
Uniformitarianism every proccess is the same as it used to be
earthquake a shaking or sliding of the ground. It is caused by the sudden movement of masses of rock along a fault or by changes in the size and shape of masses of rock far beneath the earth's surface.
S-P interval The time delay between the arrival of P and S waves.
P Wave A type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground.
divergent plate boundries Move AWAY from one another (arrows pointing outward) Earthquake Zone; Rift Zones, which have low mountains of igneous rock, longer narrow lakes or seas EXAMPLE: Ocean Floor Crust- Pacific Plate vs. Nazca Plate.
first european explorer to circumnavigate the earth Magellan started, del Cano finished
Divergent Continental/Continental Boundary A rift valley forms where two pieces of continental crust pull apart.
how old is the oldest oceanic crust? 160-180 million years old
normal polarity A magnetic field that is the same as that which exists at present.
what happens when a continental and oceanic crust collide the dencer oceanic Athenosphere sink called subduction old crust gets pushed into Athnosphere then are remelted and recycled
give two examples of fault block mountains the tetons and the cascades
What are the layers of the earth crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
give one piece of evidence that Alfred was right the continents fitted like puzzle pieces