Plate Tectonics

Plate Tectonics

the theory that explains how large pieces of the lithosphere, called plates, move and change shape the topography of the earth.

Lithosphere

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Asthenosophere

is the layer of the upper mantle composed of low-density rock matterial that is semiplastic,like putty.

Divergent boundary

where two plates are moving apart, magma comes up to create new crust

Convergent boundary

boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building ocean trenches and volcanic islands

Transform boundary

boundary between two plates that are sliding past each other.

Rifting

the process by which Earth's crust breaks apart; can occur within continental crust or oceanic crust

Laurasia

The continents of North America and Eurasia when all the continents were a single landmass.

Gondwanaland

The continents of Africa, South America, India, Australia, and Antarctica when all the continents were a single landmass.

Sea Floor spreading

What type of process is created by a divergent boundary.

Earthquake

When the earth's tectonic plates move, we call this a BLANK.

Volcano

The vent on the earth's surface through which magma and gases are expelled is a called a BLANK.

Subduction

When one tectonic plates dives under another, it is called BLANK.

Pacific Ring of Fire

A major volcanic zone which is found along the Pacific ocean and travels all the way from South America, to North America and along Asia.

Arc

Japan is an example of an island BLANK.

Pacific

California borders the BLANK plate and the North American Plate.

Divergent

A BLANK boundary creates new ocean floor.

Convergent

A BLANK boundary creates mountains.

Transform

In this boundary plates slide past each other.

Convergent

In this boundary the plates come togehter.

Divergent

In this boundary the plates move away from each other.

Great African Rift

This place is in Africa and the plates are coming apart.

Midocean ridge

an underwater chain of mountains.

Convergent

this type of ocean to ocean boundary would create a trench.

Japan

This country is an example of island arc.

Sea floor spreading

Sea BLANK BLANK creates midocean ridges, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

Mid Atlantic Ridge

This is an example of a mid ocean ridge.

East Pacific Rise

This is an example of sea floor spreading at a divergent boundary.

Subduction

At a convergent convergent boundary where an ocean meets a continent, the ocean dives under. This is called BLANK\>

Volcanoes and Earthquakes

\_____ and \_____ are features found at an ocean to continent convergent boundary.

Western Coast of South America

This is an example of a subduction zone at a convergent boundary between a continent and an ocean.

True

T or F, a subduction zones would have earthquakre activity.

False

T or F, a subduction zone occurs where to plates move away from each other.

False

T or F California is an example of an island arc.

True

T or F Indonesian Islands are an example of an Island arc.

False

T or F A divergent boundary would create mountains.

False

T or F there are only two types of convergent boundaries.

True

T or F Japan is an example of an island arc.

True

T or F You will find earthquake activity in a continent to continent convergent boundary.

False

A transform boundary creates mountains.