Unit 3- Risks from Plate Tectonics

What are volcanoes?

Fissures in Earth's crust where magma escapes from thermal pressure.

What causes earthquakes?

Seismic events caused by plate movement.

What are tsunamis?

Waves caused by water displacement.

Who is most at risk from natural hazards?

People who live on plate boundaries, especially near hazard sites.

What does plate tectonic theory tell us about the Earth?

The lithosphere is broken into plates that move around very slowly.

Who proposed the theory of plate tectonics?

Alfred Wegener in 1912.

What does the plate tectonic theory state?

The crust is split into plates that convect over a fluid mantle.

What are the characteristics of P-waves?

Primary waves that are less damaging, move faster, and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

What are the characteristics of S-waves?

Secondary waves that are more damaging, move slower, and only travel through solids.

What are the types of plate boundaries?

Divergent, Convergent, and Transform.

What landforms are associated with divergent boundaries?

Mid-ocean ridges.

What landforms are associated with convergent oceanic-oceanic boundaries?

Volcanic island arcs and trenches.

What landforms are associated with convergent oceanic-continental boundaries?

Volcanic arcs and trenches.

What landforms are associated with convergent continental-continental boundaries?

Mountain ranges.

What generates tsunamis?

Water displacement caused by earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions.

What is gravitational energy in the context of plate tectonics?

Energy related to the position of magma deep inside the Earth.

What is thermal energy in the context of plate tectonics?

Heat created as Earth's interior melts rock into magma.

What is seismic energy?

Energy released during an earthquake.

What is elastic energy?

Energy stored when plates along a fault are bent and compressed.

What is chemical energy in the context of volcanoes?

Energy released when gases dissolved in magma are expelled during an eruption.

What are shield volcanoes?

Volcanoes formed by frequent, gentle eruptions of thin, runny lava with gently sloping sides.

What are composite volcanoes?

Volcanoes with layers of lava and ash, characterized by high eruptiveness and steep angles.

What is the height of Mauna Loa?

Over 4,100 meters.

What factors increase risk from natural hazards?

Living on plate boundaries, low poverty levels, and poorly engineered infrastructure.

What is the significance of the San Andreas Fault?

It is a major transform boundary in California that experiences frequent earthquakes.

What is the height of composite volcanoes?

Usually over 5,000 meters.