Distribution of Earthquake Epicenters, Active Volcanoes and Mountain Ranges - VOCABULARY Flashcards (EN)

A set of vocabulary-focused flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on the distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and the theory and facts about lithospheric plates and their boundaries.

Earthquake epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus where an earthquake originates; used to map where quakes are centered.

Active volcano

A volcano that has erupted recently or is currently erupting (as shown in Fig.6 of the notes).

Plate tectonics

Theory that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into moving plates, explaining the distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain belts.

Lithospheric plate

A large section of the Earth's lithosphere that moves as a single unit relative to other plates.

Plate boundary

The edge where two tectonic plates interact; sites of earthquakes, volcanism, and mountain formation.

Pacific Plate

One of Earth's major tectonic plates; interacts with surrounding plates at its margins, contributing to seismic and volcanic activity.

North American Plate

A major tectonic plate whose margins are major sites of earthquakes and volcanoes.

Eurasian Plate

A large tectonic plate that forms much of Europe and Asia, interacting with neighboring plates at their margins.

Philippine Plate

A tectonic plate located in the western Pacific region, interacting with nearby plates and associated with seismic activity.

Indian Plate

A major tectonic plate south of Asia; interacts at plate boundaries with significant geologic activity.

African Plate

A major tectonic plate covering Africa and parts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans; boundary interactions cause earthquakes and volcanism.

Australian Plate

A major tectonic plate including Australia and surrounding areas; interacts with multiple neighboring plates.

South American Plate

A major plate underlying South America; its boundaries are sites of earthquakes and volcanism.

Nazca Plate

A tectonic plate off the western coast of South America; its subduction under the South American Plate drives volcanic activity.

Cocos Plate

A plate off Central America; its subduction beneath the North American and Caribbean Plates contributes to volcanism and earthquakes.

Juan de Fuca Plate

A small plate off the coast of the Pacific Northwest; its subduction under North American Plate influences seismicity.

Caribbean Plate

A minor plate in the Caribbean region; interacts with surrounding plates at its boundaries.

Arabian Plate

A tectonic plate in the Middle East region; boundary interactions contribute to regional geologic activity.

Scotia Plate

A small plate near the southern Atlantic; its boundaries interact with surrounding plates.

Antarctic Plate

A major plate covering Antarctica; interacts with other plates at its margins.

Volcano distribution

Most volcanoes are located along continental edges, especially the western coasts of the Americas and East/Southeast Asia.

Earthquake distribution

Quakes cluster in narrow zones, often near plate boundaries, and are not randomly distributed across the globe.

Mountain belts distribution

Major mountain ranges form along plate boundaries and are associated with earthquakes and volcanism.

Plate boundary interactions (processes)

At plate margins, geologic processes such as mountain formation, earthquakes, and volcanism occur.

Lithosphere description

The upper rigid shell of Earth (crust and upper mantle) that moves as plates over the mantle.