Marine Earth Processes Lecture Notes

A set of flashcards based on lecture notes covering various marine earth processes, plate tectonics, and related concepts.

Crust

The outermost layer of Earth's structure.

Continental Crust

The thicker, less dense crust that makes up the foundation of the continents.

Oceanic Crust

The dense, basaltic layer of crust that makes up the bottom of the ocean basins.

Mantle

A region of molten rock within the interior of the Earth, between the core and crust.

Core

The dense, central region within Earth.

Plate Tectonics

States that the outer crust of the Earth, known as the lithosphere, is divided into plates that float on the asthenosphere.

Convergent Boundary

Where two tectonic plates move towards each other.

Divergent Boundary

Where two tectonic plates move away from each other.

Transform Boundary

Where two tectonic plates slide past each other in opposite directions.

Ocean Trenches

Formed along convergent boundaries where subduction is occurring, these are the deepest parts of the ocean floor.

Mid-Ocean Ridges

Underwater mountain ranges formed by the upward movement and spreading of magma.

Hydrothermal Vents

Areas where cold water seeps into the ocean floor, is heated by magma, and carries dissolved minerals back up.

Abyssal Plains

Flat areas of the ocean floor formed by the continuous deposition of sediments.

Volcanoes

Formed where there is an opening in the Earth's crust that allows magma to escape.

Earthquake

A sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves.

Tsunamis

Long waves created by the displacement of water when an earthquake occurs beneath the ocean.

Hydrothermal Vent Plume

Water released from hydrothermal vents that is under pressure and rich in dissolved nutrients.

Weathering

The process of wearing down or breaking rocks through physical, chemical, or organic means.

Erosion

The natural process where material is worn away from the Earth's surface and transported elsewhere.

Chemical Weathering

Occurs when the chemical composition of rocks changes through exposure to water or oxygen.

Physical Weathering

Caused when rocks are broken into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition.

Organic Weathering

Occurs when living organisms wear or break down rock.

Sedimentation

The deposition of suspended particles after they have been moved to a new location.

Littoral Zone

The intertidal region on a shoreline, between the highest and lowest spring tide marks.

Spring Tides

When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are lined up, resulting in the highest tide amplitude.

Neap Tides

When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are at right angles, resulting in the lowest tide amplitude.

Ocean Currents

The continuous movement of water driven by various factors including wind, temperature, and salinity.

Thermohaline Circulation

Movement of deep ocean water driven by density differences due to temperature and salinity.

El Nino

A climate pattern characterized by warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

La Nina

A climate pattern characterized by cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean.