Tectonic Plates Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts related to tectonic plates, their types, movements, and associated geological phenomena.

Tectonic Plates

Massive, rigid slabs of rock that make up the Earth's lithosphere.

Continental Plates

Thicker and less dense tectonic plates that form the Earth's continents.

Oceanic Plates

Thinner and denser tectonic plates that form the ocean floor.

Asthenosphere

A hot, soft layer of the mantle beneath tectonic plates, acting like a conveyor belt for plate movement.

Convergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates move towards each other, often resulting in mountains or earthquakes.

Divergent Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates move away from each other, creating new crust.

Transform Boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates slide past each other horizontally, associated with earthquakes.

Ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain range formed by divergent boundaries.

Ocean Trench

Deep depressions in the ocean floor formed by convergent boundaries.

Volcanic Island Arc

A chain of volcanic islands formed at a convergent boundary between two oceanic plates.

Earthquake

A sudden shaking of the ground caused by the movement of tectonic plates.