Plate Tectonics

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33 Terms

1

Plate Tectonics

The theory that the earth is broken into plates and are in motion due to convection currents in the asthenosphere (upper mantle)

<p>The theory that the earth is broken into plates and are in motion due to convection currents in the asthenosphere (upper mantle)</p>
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2

Alfred Wegener

Proposed the continental drift theory in the 1900s

<p>Proposed the continental drift theory in the 1900s</p>
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3

Pangaea

term for the super continent which contained all the plates together

<p>term for the super continent which contained all the plates together</p>
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4

Crust

The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

<p>The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle</p>
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5

Lithosphere

The solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

<p>The solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle</p>
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6

Asthenosphere

The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move

<p>The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move</p>
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7

Transform Boundary

The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally. Can cause earthquakes.

<p>The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally. Can cause earthquakes.</p>
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8

Continental Drift

The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

<p>The hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations</p>
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9

Sea-floor spreading

The process by which new oceanic crust forms as magma rises towards the surface and solidifies at divergeny boundaries. Oceanic-Oceanic divergence

<p>The process by which new oceanic crust forms as magma rises towards the surface and solidifies at divergeny boundaries. Oceanic-Oceanic divergence</p>
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10

Convergent Boundary

The boundary formed by the collision of two plates

<p>The boundary formed by the collision of two plates</p>
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11

Divergent Boundary

The boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other

<p>The boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other</p>
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12

rift valley

long, narrow depression formed at divergent boundaries, continental-continental

<p>long, narrow depression formed at divergent boundaries, continental-continental</p>
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13

subduction

process in which two plates collide and the denser ocean plate descends below the other

<p>process in which two plates collide and the denser ocean plate descends below the other</p>
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14

convection current

a current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid believed to drive plate movement in the mantle of the earth

<p>a current caused by the rising of heated fluid and sinking of cooled fluid believed to drive plate movement in the mantle of the earth</p>
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15

trench

extremely deep areas in the ocean that are created by an oceanic subducting plate

<p>extremely deep areas in the ocean that are created by an oceanic subducting plate</p>
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16

ocean basin

areas that are below sea level

<p>areas that are below sea level</p>
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17

hot spot

an area in the mantle that is super heated and melts through the crust (like a blow-torch)

<p>an area in the mantle that is super heated and melts through the crust (like a blow-torch)</p>
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18

mid-ocean ridge

an underwater mountain range made at divergent plate boundaries Oceanic-Oceanic

<p>an underwater mountain range made at divergent plate boundaries Oceanic-Oceanic</p>
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19

dormant volcano

Inactive, sleeping

<p>Inactive, sleeping</p>
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20

extinct volcano

A volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years and probably will not erupt again.

<p>A volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years and probably will not erupt again.</p>
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21

seismographs

measures and records earthquake magnitude based on the energy released in an earthquake.

<p>measures and records earthquake magnitude based on the energy released in an earthquake.</p>
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22

tsunami

A giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor.

<p>A giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor.</p>
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23

epicenter

The location on the surface directly above the focus

<p>The location on the surface directly above the focus</p>
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24

volcano

A weak spot in the crust where magma has come to the surface

<p>A weak spot in the crust where magma has come to the surface</p>
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25

earthquake

A shaking or sliding of the ground. It is caused by the sudden movement of masses of rock along a fault or by changes in the size and shape of masses of rock far beneath the earth's surface.

<p>A shaking or sliding of the ground. It is caused by the sudden movement of masses of rock along a fault or by changes in the size and shape of masses of rock far beneath the earth's surface.</p>
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26

continental crust

The portion of the earth's crust that primarily contains granite, is less dense than oceanic crust, and is 20-50 km thick

<p>The portion of the earth's crust that primarily contains granite, is less dense than oceanic crust, and is 20-50 km thick</p>
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27

oceanic crust

thinner, more dense, younger crust making ocean floor

<p>thinner, more dense, younger crust making ocean floor</p>
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28

mantle

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core. The thickest layer.

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29

North American Plate

Lithospheric plate that includes almost all of North America and part of the Atlantic Ocean.

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30

Andes Mountains

A large system of mountain ranges located along the Pacific coast of South America formed above the subduction zone of two convverging plates. Oceanic-Continental

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31

Mariana Trench

The location of the deepest trench on earth made from two oceanic crusts converging.

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32

San Andreas Fault

A major geological fault in California formed by a sliding transform boundary.

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33

Himalaya Mountains

A mountain range formed where continental & continental crust converges. Eurasia & Indian plates

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