Geography Exam 2

Plate Tectonics

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

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of Earth, comprising the crust and upper mantle, divided into tectonic plates.

Asthenosphere

The semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere that allows for the movement of tectonic plates.

Divergent Boundaries

Plate boundaries where tectonic plates move apart, leading to the formation of new oceanic crust.

Convergent Boundaries

Plate boundaries where tectonic plates collide, resulting in subduction or mountain formation.

Transform Boundaries

Plate boundaries where two tectonic plates slide past each other, often causing earthquakes.

Subduction Zone

An area where one tectonic plate is being forced beneath another, leading to volcanic activity.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain range formed by divergent tectonic plates and associated with basaltic volcanism.

Paleomagnetism

The study of the record of Earth's magnetic field in rocks, used to understand plate tectonics and sea-floor spreading.

Himalaya-Tibet Collision System

A geological region formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, resulting in mountain building.

Urban Heat Island

The phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities.

Hydrologic Cycle

The continuous cycle of water movement through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks formed from the alteration of existing rocks through heat and pressure.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediment.

Wilson Cycle

The cyclical process of ocean basin formation and closure, linking continental drift with plate tectonics.

Continental Rift

A region where tectonic forces are pulling apart a continent, leading to the formation of rift valleys.

Isotherms

Lines on a map connecting points of equal temperature, indicating temperature distribution.

Basaltic Volcanism

Volcanic activity characterized by the eruption of basalt lava, typically associated with divergent boundaries.

Mantle Convection

The process by which heat from the Earth's interior causes convection currents in the mantle, driving plate tectonics.