Studied by 0 people
Earthquakes
sudden movements of Earth's crust followed by a series of shocks
Convergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other.
Divergent boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.
Transform boundary
A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions
divergent oceanic-oceanic
two ocean plates move apart. The landforms formed by this boundary are mid-ocean rigdes.
Examples: Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the Iceland volcano
convergent oceanic-oceanic
2 oceanic plates push together, older plate sub ducts and forms a chain of volcanic islands, ex. Aleutian Islands and Japanese Islands
Plate tectonic theory
the theory that the lithosphere is broken up into large plates that move and then rejoin; considered the unifying theory of geology
Tectonic plates
a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle
Plate boundaries
the edges of tectonic plates.
Seafloor spreading
The process that creates new sea floor as plates move away from each other at the mid-ocean ridges
Volcanoes
openings in Earth's crust from which molten rock, dust, ash, and hot gases flow or erupt
Convergent Oceanic-Continental
Features: volcanic arcs, volcanoes, trench
Examples: , Andes Mountains
Convergent Continent-Continent
A landform created by this boundary is mountain ranges.
Hot spots
places where molten material from the mantle reaches the lithosphere
Faults
Breaks in Earth's crust where rocks have slipped past each other.
Asthenosphere
The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move
Lithosphere
A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust.
Crust
The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle
Convection currents
a current in a fluid that results from convection.
Mantle
The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.
Soil
The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow.
Erosion
Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away (i.e. weathering, glaciation)
Cover crops
Plants, such as rye, alfalfa, or clover, that can be planted immediately after harvest to hold and protect the soil.
Vegetated buffers
areas of natural or established vegetation maintained to protect the water quality of neighboring areas
Parent material
the rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived
Soil horizons
distinct layers of soil
Weathering
The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.
Organic material
Materials that were once part of living things
Soil Fertility
Soil's ability to hold nutrients and to supply nutrients to a plant
physical properties of soil
texture and porosity
biological properties of soil
Many organisms are found in the soil including fungi, bacteria, protozoans, rodents and earthworms.
Fertilizer
a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility
Clay
the finest soil, made up of particles that are less than 0.002 mm in diameter.
Sand
the coarsest soil, with particles 0.05,2.0 mm in diameter.
Silt
fine particles of fertile soil
Water holding capacity
how well soil can retain water (sand is low, clay is high)
Loam
Rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt.
Atmosphere
A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon.
Leaching
removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
divergent continental-continental
two continental plates move apart, forms rift valley
