Earthquakes and Tectonic Plates

Tectonic plates

Large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other.

Convection currents

Circulating flow of molten rock in the mantle caused by heat from the Earth's core.

Asthenosphere

The semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere, allowing tectonic plates to move.

Subduction zone

An area where one tectonic plate sinks under another into the mantle.

Transform boundaries

2 plates slide past each other

San Andreas Fault

A transform boundary located in California between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.

Epicenter

point on surface located where plates move

Built up stress

Energy accumulated in tectonic plates due to their slow movement over time.

Oceanic ridge

A continuous mountain range formed by tectonic plates pulling apart.

Magma intrusion

The movement of magma into existing rock formations, often causing tectonic plates to shift.

Cooling slab

A denser section of oceanic plate that sinks back into the mantle at a subduction zone.