Plate Tectonics

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Plate Tectonics, based on lecture notes.

Continental Drift Hypothesis

The theory that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.

Pangea

A supercontinent that existed around 200-300 million years ago, where all continents were connected.

Paleomagnetism

The study of the magnetic properties of rocks to understand the history of Earth's magnetic field.

Lithosphere

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

Asthenosphere

The semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere that allows for the movement of tectonic plates.

Subduction Zone

A region where one tectonic plate moves under another, leading to geological activity such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Divergent Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates move away from each other, creating new oceanic lithosphere.

Convergent Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates collide, leading to one plate being subducted beneath the other.

Transform Boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates slide past one another horizontally.

Fossil Correlation

Matching fossils from different continents as evidence for continental drift, indicating they were once connected.

Geological Features

Natural formations on Earth’s surface such as mountains, valleys, and plate boundaries that result from tectonic activity.

Tectonic Plates

Massive slabs of solid rock that make up the Earth's lithosphere and move on the asthenosphere.

Glacial Evidence

Deposits and striations left by glaciers that indicate past climate and geographical conditions on continents that are now warm.

Coal Deposits

Fossil fuels found in areas that were once tropical, providing evidence of climate changes associated with plate tectonics.

Plate Tectonics

A unifying theory in geology that explains the movement and interaction of tectonic plates on the Earth’s surface.

Mesosaurus

An extinct freshwater reptile whose fossil remains found in South America and Africa support the theory of continental drift.