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What is GPS and how does it help in understanding plate tectonics?
GPS is a system of satellites orbiting Earth that provides information about how places on Earth are moving relative to each other, enabling predictions about past continental positions.
Are all GPS stations on Earth moving in the same direction?
No, GPS stations are moving in different directions as indicated by the yellow lines.
What is the purpose of a Seismic Explorer?
A Seismic Explorer visualizes real-time data about earthquakes, volcanoes, and plate motion, helping to identify patterns and relationships among these phenomena.
What landforms are created when two pieces of the Earth's surface move towards each other?
Mountains and trenches are formed when two pieces of the Earth's surface converge.
What occurs when two pieces of land move away from each other?
Water appears between the pieces, potentially forming islands, and underwater mountains (mid-ocean ridges) begin to form.
How can data from earthquakes, volcanoes, and GPS tracking be utilized?
This data can help make predictions about how the pieces of the Earth's surface are moving.
What is a Paleomap?
A Paleomap illustrates the plate tectonic development of Earth's oceans and continents, showing the changing distribution of land and sea over millions of years.
What landforms are created by the constant motion of the Earth's surface?
Landforms such as mountains, hills, plains, basins, trenches, and tectonic events like earthquakes and volcanoes.
What does a geographic profile indicate about elevation?
Sea level is at 0 meters; negative numbers indicate underwater locations, while positive numbers indicate above sea level.
What does the elevation change at 670 km on a geographic profile represent?
It represents a trench.
What does a relief map show?
A relief map shows the elevations of land using different colors.
How is the trench represented on the relief map snapshot?
The trench is represented by a dark blue line, indicating the lowest point of the ocean floor.
Where are the volcanoes aligned according to the Seismic Explorer?
The volcanoes are aligned with the Andes mountain range.
What pattern is observed in earthquake depth as you move east under South America?
Earthquakes get deeper as you move farther east under the continent.
What geological process is suggested by the pattern of earthquakes in South America?
The pieces of Earth's surface are converging, with oceanic crust subducting beneath continental crust.
What is a convergent boundary?
A convergent boundary is where two or more pieces of Earth's surface move toward each other and collide, with one plate sliding beneath the other (subduction).
What does evidence of deepening earthquakes and volcanoes near a plate boundary indicate?
It indicates that two plates of the Earth's surface are converging.
What can be inferred about the earthquakes in the Aleutian Islands based on their 3D cross-section?
The earthquakes indicate that the two pieces of Earth's surface are interacting, likely through converging movements.
What does the pattern of earthquakes suggest about the oceanic crust in the context of plate tectonics?
The earthquakes are shallower to the south and deeper to the north, suggesting that the southern part of the oceanic crust is going under the northern part.
What geographic features indicate that two pieces of Earth's surface are converging?
Look for deep ocean trenches, volcanoes, and a pattern of deepening earthquakes.
What is the Earth's surface called, and what are the moving pieces of it referred to?
The Earth's surface is called the crust, and the moving pieces are called plates.
What distinguishes oceanic crust from continental crust?
Oceanic crust is located below the ocean, while continental crust is located above the ocean.
True or False: A tectonic plate can consist only of continental crust.
False. A plate can have both types of crust or only oceanic crust, but never only continental crust.
What geological features result from moving plates of Earth's surface?
Moving plates create mountains and trenches, and result in earthquakes and volcanoes.
How does the convergence of an oceanic plate and a continental plate create a mountain range?
The oceanic plate goes under the continental plate, creating a trench, while mountains form on the continental plate.
What happens when two oceanic plates converge?
One oceanic plate goes below the other, creating a trench and forming a volcanic island on the upper plate.
How do the Seismic Explorer (SE) and Tectonic Explorer (TE) models explain earthquake patterns near the Andes Mountains?
Earthquakes occur as plates move past each other, with SE showing a pattern of shallow to deeper earthquakes due to the bending of the underlying plate.
How do trenches, mountains, and volcanoes form near converging tectonic plates?
Trenches form where one plate goes under another, mountains/volcanic islands form on the top plate, and volcanoes form above the subducting plate when magma rises.
What is subduction in the context of plate tectonics?
Subduction is a geological process where two plates converge, causing one oceanic plate to be thrust beneath another, resulting in landforms and tectonic events.
What are the two types of crust involved when a plate with oceanic crust goes under a plate with continental crust?
The oceanic crust goes under the continental crust, forming volcanic mountains on the continent.
What is formed when an oceanic plate goes under another oceanic plate?
A chain of volcanic islands is formed.
What geological events are associated with the process of subduction?
Subduction results in earthquakes and volcanoes, as well as the formation of mountains and trenches.
What can be inferred about the location of volcanoes in relation to the subducting plate?
Volcanoes are formed above the subducting plate, but not directly where it goes under; they are located further away.
What is the relationship between earthquake depth and the movement of tectonic plates?
As plates converge, earthquakes can occur at varying depths, with deeper earthquakes indicating more significant subduction.
How do the Andes Mountains differ from the Aleutian Islands in terms of tectonic plate interaction?
The Andes are formed by an oceanic plate going under a continental plate, while the Aleutian Islands are formed by two oceanic plates converging.
What geological structures can be found at convergent boundaries?
Convergent boundaries can feature mountains, trenches, and volcanic activity.
What is the significance of a trench in the context of plate tectonics?
A trench indicates where one tectonic plate is being subducted beneath another.
What type of crust is typically found in oceanic trenches?
Oceanic crust is typically found in oceanic trenches.
How does the convergence of tectonic plates affect the Earth's surface over time?
The convergence of tectonic plates leads to the creation of landforms and the occurrence of tectonic events like earthquakes and volcanoes.
What are the three types of convergent boundaries?
The three types of convergent boundaries are oceanic-continental, oceanic-oceanic, and continental-continental.
What are the three types of convergent boundaries?
What occurs at oceanic-continental convergent boundaries?
Subduction occurs, leading to deeper earthquakes as they move inland and the formation of volcanoes on the continent, creating mountain ranges.
What is the result of oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries?
Subduction occurs, resulting in deeper earthquakes toward the subducting plate and the formation of an island arc.
What characterizes continental-continental convergent boundaries?
There is no current subduction, leading to shallow earthquakes and the formation of mountain ranges parallel to the boundary.
True or False: Earth is made up of only 2 tectonic plates.
False.
True or False: Each of Earth's tectonic plates interacts with adjacent plates along shared boundaries.
True.
What are mid-ocean ridges?
They are the longest chain of volcanic mountains on Earth, formed where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other.
What happens when two plates diverge at a mid-ocean ridge?
The plates on the opposite side converge, causing oceanic crust to subduct under continental crust.
What occurs at divergent boundaries?
Hot magma rises from the mantle, cools to form new oceanic crust, and volcanic eruptions occur as plates move apart.
What geological features are present on ocean ridges?
Valleys where volcanic activity occurs, which can be as deep as 1 km.
How do trenches compare to valleys at ocean ridges?
Trenches are much deeper than the valleys found on ocean ridges.
What is a transform boundary?
A plate boundary where two plates slide past each other, with no creation or destruction of plate material.
What pattern do transform boundaries form along mid-ocean ridges?
They form a zigzag pattern connecting segments of divergent boundaries.
What type of earthquakes occur along transform and divergent boundaries?
Shallow earthquakes occur along both types of boundaries.
True or False: Only some of the Earth's surface is covered in tectonic plates.
False.
What types of data do scientists use to determine the locations of plate boundaries?
Scientists use seismic data and other geological information to map the boundaries of tectonic plates.
What happens to the oceanic crust at divergent boundaries?
New oceanic crust is formed as magma rises and cools at the mid-ocean ridge.
What geological activity is associated with divergent boundaries?
Volcanic eruptions and shallow earthquakes occur as plates move away from each other.
What is the significance of the mid-ocean ridge?
It is a key area where new oceanic crust is formed and where tectonic plates diverge.
What is the relationship between plate movement and volcanic activity?
Volcanic activity occurs near divergent boundaries where magma rises to the surface.
What geological features are formed at convergent boundaries?
Mountain ranges and volcanic arcs are formed, depending on the type of convergence.
What is the role of magma at divergent boundaries?
Magma rises from the mantle, cools to form new crust, and contributes to the movement of tectonic plates.
How do earthquakes differ at convergent and divergent boundaries?
Earthquakes at convergent boundaries can be deeper due to subduction, while divergent boundaries typically have shallower earthquakes.
How can plate boundaries be identified in Seismic Explorer?
By using earthquake and volcanic eruption data.
What types of earthquakes are associated with convergent boundaries?
Convergent boundaries have patterns of shallow and deep earthquakes.
What geological feature is commonly found at convergent boundaries?
Chains of volcanoes.
Why do deep earthquakes occur at convergent boundaries?
Because one plate subducts beneath another.
What type of earthquakes are found at divergent and transform boundaries?
Patterns of shallow earthquakes.
What volcanic activity is associated with divergent boundaries?
Volcanoes along mid-ocean ridges.
What is the nature of plate movement at divergent boundaries?
Plates are moving away from each other.
What is the crust?
The solid, outermost rigid layer of the Earth's surface.
Describe the mantle's characteristics.
The mantle is solid but less rigid, flows slowly, and moves in response to heating.
What drives the movement of mantle rock?
Convection.
Explain the convection process in the mantle.
Warmer mantle rock rises, spreads sideways at the surface, cools and sinks back down.
What is the core of the Earth?
The innermost layer that provides a source of heat energy.
What happens to mantle rock at a divergent boundary?
Warm mantle rock reaches the bottom side of the crust and creates new plate material.
What occurs at convergent boundaries regarding mantle rock?
Cooling mantle rock sinks back towards Earth's core.
How is surface plate movement connected to mantle movement?
The direction of plate movement is determined by the flow of convection currents in the mantle.
What type of mantle convection is likely occurring at the boundary between the Somali plate and the Australian plate?
Hot, rising rock in the mantle.
What type of mantle convection is likely occurring at the boundary between the Nazca plate and the South American plate?
Cooler, sinking rock in the mantle.
True or False: Plate boundaries can only be found on certain sides of any plate.
False.
True or False: One plate can interact with several different plates.
True.
True or False: There are distinct patterns of earthquakes and landforms along convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries.
True.
True or False: All plates move at the same rate.
False.
True or False: Plate motion on one side of a plate gives insight into what might be happening along other boundaries.
True.
What are the two forces that affect the movement of tectonic plates?
Mantle convection and gravity.
What is ridge push and where does it occur?
Ridge push occurs at divergent boundaries along mid-ocean ridges where upwelling material from the mantle pushes the crust apart.
How does gravity contribute to ridge push?
Gravity causes the new plate material on either side of the ridge to slide down its slopes, pushing the plates outward.
What is slab pull and at which boundaries does it occur?
Slab pull occurs at convergent boundaries, where gravity pulls the subducted plate downward into the mantle.
What analogy is used to explain slab pull?
It is compared to a blanket hanging off a bed being pulled onto the floor by its own weight.
How does gravity move tectonic plates?
Gravity moves plates through slab pull and ridge push.
True or False: At divergent boundaries, each plate moves away from the boundary at the same velocity.
False.
True or False: A single plate moves at different speeds at different boundaries.
True.
What factors affect the speed at which tectonic plates move?
The speed is affected by slab pull, ridge push, and the rate of mantle convection.
What is the claim about plate movement near Japan?
Plates are moving towards each other.
What evidence supports the claim about plate movement near Japan?
Landform evidence includes a chain of volcanic islands and a trench, along with earthquake patterns indicating subduction.
What will happen to the Red Sea in 50 million years according to the claim?
The Red Sea will expand.
What evidence supports the claim about the future of the Red Sea?
Seismic Explorer data shows a divergent boundary at the center of the Red Sea, with shallow earthquakes and volcanoes indicating plate movement away from each other.
What is a limitation of Seismic Explorer in predicting the future of the Red Sea?
Seismic Explorer only provides information up to the present day and cannot predict future shifts in plate movement.
How did the Appalachian Mountains form despite not being on an active plate boundary?
They formed from the convergence of two plates in the past, followed by divergence creating remnants of mountains.