Plate Tectonics: A Unifying Theory

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to plate tectonics and continental drift.

Plate Tectonics

The unifying theory of geology that explains the movement of the Earth's lithosphere through the interaction of tectonic plates.

Continental Drift

The hypothesis proposing that continents have moved over geological time from a single supercontinent to their current positions.

Pangaea

A supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, meaning 'all land'.

Gondwana

A supercontinent that included South America, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, and India.

Continental Rifts

Areas where continental crust is being stretched and weakened, leading to splitting of landmasses.

Transform Boundaries

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

Subduction Zone

An area where one tectonic plate moves under another, leading to volcanic activity and mountain building.

Volcanic Island Arc

A chain of islands formed from volcanic activity at convergent boundaries where oceanic plates subduct.

Seafloor Spreading

The process by which new oceanic lithosphere forms as magma rises to the surface at mid-ocean ridges.

Paleomagnetism

The study of the record of Earth's magnetic field in rocks, sediment, or archeological materials.

Glossopteris

A genus of seed ferns whose fossils have been found on many southern continents, providing evidence for continental drift.

Launia

A term used to describe the northern continental masses comprising North America, Greenland, Europe, and Asia.

Geological Evidence

Evidence gathered from various geological features and occurrences that support the theory of plate tectonics.

Oceanic Trench

Deep underwater canyons formed by the subduction of one tectonic plate beneath another.

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

An underwater mountain range that is the result of seafloor spreading and tectonic activity.

Rift Valley

A lowland region formed by the pulling apart of tectonic plates, often hosting lakes and new oceans.

Divergent Boundaries

Boundaries where tectonic plates move apart, resulting in new crust formation.

Convergent Boundaries

Boundaries where tectonic plates collide or move towards each other, often causing mountain building and subduction.

Wilson Cycle

The cyclical process of the opening and closing of ocean basins due to tectonic activity.

Curie Temperature

The temperature below which certain materials can retain their magnetic properties.

Strike-Slip Fault

A type of fault where two blocks of crust slide past each other horizontally.