Plate Tectonics and Volcanic Activity

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to plate tectonics and associated volcanic activity.

Plate Tectonics

The scientific theory explaining the movement of the Earth's lithosphere, which is divided into tectonic plates.

Magma

Molten rock located beneath the Earth's surface.

Diverging Plates

Tectonic plates that move apart from each other, often creating new crust.

Constructive Boundaries

Plate boundaries where plates are moving apart, allowing magma to rise and create new crust.

Destructive Boundaries

Plate boundaries where one plate is forced underneath another, often leading to volcanic activity.

Volcanic Eruption

The release of magma, gas, and ash from a volcano.

Tephra

Any solid material that is ejected from a volcano during an eruption.

Pyroclastic Flow

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter that travels down the slopes of a volcano.

Lava Flow

The movement of lava as it erupts from a volcano and flows down its sides.

Tsunami

A series of ocean waves caused by large displacements of water, often resulting from underwater earthquakes.

Seismic Waves

Energy waves that travel through the Earth, generated by earthquakes or other geological processes.

Richter Scale

A scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes based on seismic wave amplitude.

Moment Magnitude Scale

A more accurate scale used to measure the total energy released by an earthquake.

Explosive Volcano

A type of volcano that erupts violently, ejecting ash and pyroclastic material.

Landslide

The movement of rock and soil down a slope, often triggered by earthquakes or volcanic activity.

Earthquake Focus

The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.

Subduction Zone

A region where one tectonic plate is being pushed under another, often associated with volcanic activity.

Volcanic Gases

Gases emitted during a volcanic eruption, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

Frequency of Eruptions

How often volcanoes erupt, with classifications ranging from active to extinct.