Studied by 8 people
APES 2024
Formation of the Earth and Solar System
The processes that formed Earth 4.6 billion years ago determined the distribution and abundance of elements & minerals today
Core
The innermost zone of Earth’s interior; composed of mostly iron and nickel, includes a liquid outer and solid inner layer
Mantle
The layer of Earth above the core, containing magma
Magma
Molten rock
Asthenosphere
The layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock
Lithosphere
The outermost layer of Earth including the mantle and crust
Crust
The chemically distinct outermost layer of the lithosphere
Plate Tectonics
The theory that the lithosphere of Earth is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion
Why are most tectonic plates in constant motion
The high temperature of Earth’s outercore and mantle is thought to be the result of radioactive decay of various isotopes, the heat causes plumes of hot magma to well upward from the mantle and produce hot-spots
Hot-spot
A plane where molten material from Earth’s mantle reaches the lithosphere
Convergent boundary
An area where tectonic plates move toward one another and collide →←
Convergent boundaries can result in
Mountains
Island arcs
Earthquakes
Volcanoes
Subduction
The process of one crustal plate crossing another ex. The Pacific Coast of South America
Oceanic-Continental
Denser oceanic will subduct under the continental (convergent)
Continental-Continental
Crust will push up (convergent) ex. Himilayas
The Pacific Coast of South America
The pacific plate converges with with the South American plate, the pacific plate is pushed down and the South American plate is pushed up creating the Andes Mountains
Divergent Boundary
An area beneath the ocean where tectonic plates move away from each other ←→, ex. Mid-Atlantic Ridge & East Africa Rift Valley
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Middle of the Atlantic Ocean, pushes North America away from Europe
East Africa Rift Valley
In Ethiopia and Kenya
Divergent boundaries can result in
Seafloor Spreading
Rift Valleys
Volcanoes
Earthquakes
Seafloor Spreading
The formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward
Transform boundary
An area where tectonic plates move sideways past each other ←
→
ex. San Andreas Fault - off the California Coast
Transform boundaries can result in
Earthquakes
Earthquake
Occurs when stress overcomes a locked fault releasing stored energy
Note
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