Dynamic Earth Review

Flashcards about Dynamic Earth Lecture Notes

Crust

The layer of the Earth that contains every natural element as a solid with temperatures LESS THAN 1000 degrees, and is located on top of the asthenosphere.

Mantle

The layer of the Earth that is made of up solid iron and liquid nickel and magnesium, has a temperature range of 1500-3200 degrees, and is approximately 2,900 kilometers deep.

Outer Core

The layer of the Earth that is made of up LIQUID iron and nickel, has a temperature range of 3700-5000 degrees, and is approximately 5,100 kilometers deep.

Inner Core

The layer of the Earth that is made of up SOLID iron and nickel with temperatures ABOVE 6000 degrees, and is approximately 6,400 kilometers deep

Continental Drift

The theory that continents fit together like puzzle pieces.

Seafloor Spreading

Magnetic reversals in rocks on the ocean floor.

Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes and volcanoes occur along plate boundaries.

Transform/Strike Slip Boundary

A type of boundary where shearing forces are increasing.

Convergent Plate Boundary

A type of boundary where compression forces are increasing.

Divergent Plate Boundary

A type of boundary where tension forces are increasing.

Folded Mountain

This type of mountain is formed when rough forces inside the Earth SQUEEZE rock layers together like a rug pushed up against a wall.

Fault Block Mountain

This type of mountain is formed when forces inside the Earth PULL APART rock layers and form majestic peaks and steep slopes that resemble steps.

Upwarped Mountain

This type of mountain is formed when blocks in the Earth are pushed up by forces forming high peaks and sharp ridges.

Volcanic Mountain

This type of mountain forms when lava cools forming layers of ash piled on top of each other.

Plains

Most common type of landform that makes up 50% of the Earth's landforms and is ideal for agriculture and animals.

Coastal Plains

This type of landform is found near the ocean and also called lowlands.

Plateaus

This type of landform are flat, raised areas of land like you would find in the Grand Canyon.

Cinder Cone Volcano

These types of volcanoes have moderate to violent eruptions, that do not last long, with lava shooting high into the air and stopping after all the gas is gone. The tephra form a small cone about 300m in height and Sunset Crater in Arizona is an example.

Shield Volcano

These types of volcanoes are formed at divergent plate boundaries and are the largest type of volcanoes with a wide crater and gentle slopes. Basaltic lava rich in iron and magnesium comes from deep within the Earth and form new lands like Mauna, Loa in Hawaii.

Composite Volcano

These types of volcanoes are formed at subduction zones at converging plate boundaries resulting in steep slopes. They have violent tephra eruptions but quiet lava eruptions with Mt. St. Helens in Washington being an example.

P-Waves (primary waves)

Fastest waves that travel underground causing rocks to move back and forth.

S- Waves (secondary waves)

Slower arriving waves that travel underground causing rocks to move up and down.

L-Waves (Love or surface waves)

Slower and larger waves that occur on the surface and cause the most destruction.

Normal Fault

Rocks pulled apart.

Reverse Fault

Rocks squeezed together.

Strike Slip Fault

Rocks shear together.

Focus

The point INSIDE the Earth when energy FIRST comes from and is released.

Epicenter

The point ON the Earth's surface directly above where the energy is first released.

Seismic Wave

A large wave caused by an earthquake.

Crater

The opening of a volcano.

Magma

Molten rock found on the INSIDE of the Earth's surface.

Lava

Molten rock found on the OUTSIDE of the Earth's surface.

Tephra

Rock or solidified magma that drops from the air in small pieces as ash and cinder or in large pieces as blocks.

Hot Spots

Large bodies of magma found UNDER the Earth's surface that force their way through a weaken part of the mantle and continental crust producing volcanic eruptions.

Convection Currents

Cycle that occurs in the mantle where hot magma from the center of the Earth rises to the surface and cool magma becomes more dense and sinks back into the mantle.

Convergent Plate Boundary

Type of tectonic plate boundary shown in the cross-section of model 1.

Subduction Zone

Ocean floor is pulled downward producing a trench (ocean basin). This downward warping due to tectonic motion.

Subduction

The Mariana Trench is Earth's deepest oceanic trench formed by this.

Pangea

Continents were once joined aka