APES Unit 1 - Earth's Systems & Resources

Convergent Boundary

a region where two or more tectonic plates move toward each other and collide

What occurs at a convergent boundary

mountains, island arcs, earthquakes, volcanoes

Divergent Boundary

a geological zone where two tectonic plates move apart from each other

What occurs at a divergent boundary

seafloor spreading, rift valleys, volcanoes, eqarthquakes

Transform Boundaries

a place where two tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other

What occurs at a transform boundary

earthquakes

What do oceanic-oceanic convergent plates do

deep ocean trenches, island arcs, volcanoes

example of oceanic-ocean convergent plate

mariana trench

What do oceanic-continental convergent plates do

volcanic mountain ranges along the continental margin

example of oceanic-continental convergent plate

andes mountains

What do continental-continental convergent plates do

subduction is minimal but mountain ranges form from plate collission

example of continental-continental convergent plate

Himalayas

Example of mid-ocean ridge and location

mid-atlantic ridge (ocean between america and europe by iceland)

Example of rift valleys ridge and location

east african rift valley

Example of transform boundary

san andres fault

subduction zone

area where one plate is being pulled under the edge of another

two plates collide - formation

oldeer plate forced under younger

causes island arcs

Volcanic arc

a arc-shaped chain of volcanoes formed above a subduction zone

where are the largest mountains on earth?

lie in the atlantic ocean (between america and europe)

where are himilaya mountains

india boarder

what do plates floar on?

asthenosphere

can plates have multiple types of boundaries?

Yes

how do tsunamis occur?

The most common cause, happening mostly at subduction zones where one tectonic plate slips beneath another.

Core

innermost zone of earths interior, composted mostly of iron and nickle. it includes the liquid outter layer and a solid inner later

mantle

the layer of earth above the core, containing magma

magma

molten rock - slowly circulates in convection cells

asthenosphere

layer of earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock

lithenosphere

outermost layer of earth including the mantle and crust

crust

chemically distinct outermost layer of the lithenosphere

How do hotspots form?

high temperaturre in core & mantle is due to radioactivite decay of various isoptopes that release heat - heat rises upward producing hotspots

hotspots

A place where molten material from earths mantle reaches the lithenosphere

who discovered plate tectonics

alferd wegner

plate tectnoics

theory that the lithenosphere of earth is divided into parts, most of which are in constnat motion

tectnoic plates

sum of the processes that build up and break down the lithosphere

compare density of oceanic and continental plates

continental plates are lighter (Less dense)

Subduction

process of one crusted plate passing under another

volcano

a vent in the surface of earth that emits ash, gases, or molten lava

(caused by a plate moving over a geolgical hotspot)

(natural source of atmospheric CO₂)

What is an example of a hotspot?

hawaii, yellow stone

Seafloor spreading

formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upwards and outwards fromj earths mantle to the surface - divergent

seismic activity

frequency & intensity of earthquakes experienced over time

fault zone

large expanse of rock where a fault has occurred

fault

fracture in rock caused by a movement of earths crust

earthquake

sudden movement of earths crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geologicval fault and and usually causes a vibration or trembling at Earth’s surface

(rocks of the lithosphere rupture unexplectedly alolng a fault)

epicenter

exact point on the surface of earth direct above the location where rock ruptures during an earthquake

richter scale

measures the largest ground movement that occurs during an eqarthquake

logarithmic scale - each point is 10x more/less than the last