Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Mountain Ranges

Vocabulary flashcards about volcanoes, earthquakes, mountain ranges, and plate tectonics based on the provided lecture notes.

Active Volcano

A volcano with accounts of eruption documented within 10,000 years.

Continent

A big body of land on the globe.

Earthquake

A vibration of Earth due to the rapid release of energy.

Epicenter

The location on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.

Focus

The exact site of the origin of an earthquake, below the epicenter.

Magma

The liquid rock below the Earth's surface.

Mountain

A landmass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill.

Mountain Range

A chain of mountains.

Seismic Waves

Earthquake waves.

Primary Waves

The first type of seismic wave to be recorded in a seismic station; these compression waves are the fastest and travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Secondary Waves

The second type of earthquake wave to be recorded in a seismic station; these shearing waves are stronger than P-waves, but only move through solids.

Seismograph

A measuring instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity and direction and duration of movements of an earthquake.

Tsunami

A Japanese term for “big wave in the port;” generated during undersea quakes.

Volcano

A mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor and gas is being or have been erupted from the earth's crust.

Lithosphere

Composed of the crust and the upper mantle.

Plate Tectonics Theory

The theory that the entire lithosphere of the Earth is broken into numerous segments called plates.

Plates

Numerous segments that the entire lithosphere of the Earth is broken into.