Layers of the Earth & Plate Tectonics

What is the outer core, and why is it important?

The outer core is the only liquid layer of the Earth, and its movement creates Earth’s magnetic field

What is subduction

Geological process where one of earths plates sinks beneath another into the mantle

Lithosphere

crust & upper mantle/solid rock

asthenosphere

middle mantle/ soft liquid rock

why is the inner core a solid even though its the hottest?

Because of the immese pressure inside the inner core.

What is the theory of conditional drift?

earths conditions were once whole, (pangea) but broke apart and drifted to where they are today

Who came up with the theory?

Alfred Wegener

convergent bounderies

2 tectonic plates move towards each other, causing subduction

what is the primary causes of tectonic plate motion, continent drift, earthquakes, & volcanic activity?

Thermal convection currants in the earths mantle

what is seafloor speading

occuring at mid-alantic ridges, where plates diverge, and magma rises to create new oceanic crust.

Divergent Boundries

a linear feature where 2 tectonic plates move apart

transform boundries

2 plates that move horizontally past each other

Layers of the earth?

crust, mantle, outer core, & inner core