Earth's Internal Processes

Consist of the processes responsible for the movment and interactions lead to Earth's ever-changing planet.

ANTHENOSPHERE

The layer of the Earth located beneath the lithosphere, characterized by its ability to flow slowly due to high temperatures and pressures. It plays a crucial role in tectonic plate movements.

CONSTRUCTIVE FORCE

A geologic force that builds up the Earth's crust, typically associated with processes such as volcanic activity and mountain formation.

CONTINENTAL CRUST

The outermost layer of the Earth, comprising the continents and the shallow seabed of continental shelves, characterized by a variety of rocks and minerals.

CONTINENTAL DRIFT

The gradual movement of continents across the Earth's surface over geological time, resulting from tectonic plate interactions.

CONVECTION

The movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle caused by heat from the core, which drives tectonic plate movements.

CONVECTION CURRENT

The movement of fluid caused by variations in temperature and density, leading to the transfer of heat. This process plays a critical role in the Earth's mantle and atmosphere.

CONVERGENT BOUNDARY

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, often causing one plate to be subducted beneath the other, leading to earthquake activity and volcanic formation.

CRATON

CRUST

The outermost layer of the Earth, composed of solid rock, and includes both continental and oceanic crust. It is relatively thin compared to other layers and is where we live

DEEP OCEAN TRENCH

A long, narrow depression in the ocean floor, formed at convergent boundaries where one tectonic plate is being subducted under another, often associated with intense earthquake activity.

DESTRUCTIVE FORCE

A process that removes or breaks down rocks and minerals, often through weathering, erosion, or volcanic activity.

DIFFERENTIATION

The process by which the Earth's layers formed as it cooled, with denser materials sinking to the core and lighter materials rising to form the crust.

DIVERGENT BOUNDARY

A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move away from each other, leading to the formation of new crust as magma rises to the surface.

FOLD MOUNTAIN

A type of mountain formed by the collision of tectonic plates, causing the Earth's crust to fold and uplift.

FOLDING

The process by which rock layers are bent or folded due to tectonic forces, often resulting in the formation of mountains.

HOT SPOT

A location on the Earth's surface that has experienced prolonged volcanic activity due to a plume of hot magma rising from deep within the mantle.

IGNEOUS

rock formations that occur from magma cooling and solidifying.

INNER CORE

The innermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of iron and nickel, and is solid due to the immense pressure despite its high temperatures.

INORGANIC

material not derived from living organisms, typically consisting of minerals and rocks.

ISLAND ARC

a geographic feature formed by a volcanic island chain caused by the subduction of one oceanic plate beneath another.

LAVA

molten rock that erupts from a volcano, cooling into solid rock upon reaching the Earth's surface.

LITHOSPHERE

the rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

MAGMA

molten rock located beneath the Earth's surface, where it can accumulate in magma chambers or erupt as lava.

MANTLE

the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the core, composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.

METAMORPHIC

rock formed from the transformation of existing rock due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

MID-OCEAN RIDGE

a continuous mountain range underwater, formed by volcanic activity where tectonic plates pull apart. It is a key feature of plate tectonics.

MINERAL

a naturally occurring inorganic substance with a crystalline structure and defined chemical composition.

NORMAL POLARITY

a magnetic state where the Earth's magnetic field is aligned with the current magnetic north, as it is today.

OCEANIC CRUST

the uppermost layer of the oceanic environment, composed mainly of basalt and forming the ocean floor.

OUTER CORE

the liquid layer of the Earth's core located beneath the mantle and above the inner core, primarily composed of iron and nickel.

PANGAEA

the supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, which eventually split into the continents we know today.

PLATE TECTONICS

the scientific theory that describes the large-scale movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

PLATEAU

an elevated flat landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area, often characterized by steep cliffs.

REVERSE POLARITY

a geomagnetic phenomenon where the Earth's magnetic field is oriented opposite to its current direction, often related to the formation of oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges.

RIFT ZONE

an area where tectonic plates are moving apart, often resulting in volcanic activity and the formation of new crust.

SEAFLOOR SPREADING

the process by which new oceanic crust is formed as tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma to rise and solidify at mid-ocean ridges, contributing to the expansion of the seafloor.

SEAMOUNT

a submerged mountain rising from the ocean floor, typically volcanic in origin, that does not reach the water's surface.

SEDIMENTARY

rocks formed from the accumulation of mineral and organic particles, often layered and compacted over time.

SPATIAL

relating to space and the organization of objects in it.

SUBDUCTION

the geological process where one tectonic plate moves under another plate and sinks into the mantle.

TECTONIC PLATE

the large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact at their boundaries, causing geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

TECTONIC UPLIFT

the geological process where tectonic plates collide or push against each other, causing the Earth's crust to rise.

TEMPORAL

time and the measurement of changes, events, or processes over various timescales

TRANSFORM BOUNDARY

a type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes and deformation without the creation or destruction of lithosphere.