The Movers and Shakers

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to Earth's geological processes, including mountain formation, volcanic activity, and weathering.

Abyssal plains

Flat areas on the ocean floor, typically found deep below sea level.

Continental margin

The region joining continents and oceans, consisting of the continental shelf, slope, and rise.

Active margin

A coastal region where subduction is occurring, often associated with deep ocean trenches.

Passive margin

A coastal region that is more stable than active margins, characterized by a gently sloping continental rise.

Guyots

Submerged mountains that have flat tops.

Seamounts

Underwater mountains formed by volcanic activity.

Orogenesis

The process of mountain formation.

Isostasy

The balance between the buoyancy of Earth's crust and the force of gravity.

Chemoautotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by oxidizing inorganic substances, often found near hydrothermal vents.

Hydrothermal vents

Deep-sea hot springs where heated water, rich in minerals, is released from the Earth's crust.

Fault-block mountains

Mountains formed by the faulting and fracturing of Earth’s crust.

Volcano

An opening in Earth's crust through which molten rock, ash, and gases are ejected.

Seismic waves

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth and are caused by tectonic activity or earthquakes.

Magnitude

A numerical measure of the energy released during an earthquake.

Chemical weathering

The process in which the composition of rocks is altered through chemical reactions.

Physical weathering

The mechanical breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Mass wasting

The downward movement of soil and rock due to gravity.

Glacial drift

Material carried and deposited by glaciers.

Karst topography

Landforms created by the dissolution of soluble rocks, such as limestone, resulting in caves and sinkholes.

Fjord

A long, deep, narrow sea or lake inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by glacial activity.

Tsunami

Large ocean waves typically caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.