Kaarten: Layers of the Earth and Plate Tectonics | Quizlet

Plate Tectonics

The theory that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere

Lithosphere

The solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Asthenosphere

The soft layer of the mantle on which pieces of the lithosphere move. Tectonic plates, parts of the lithosphere, "float" or move on this layer.

Mesosphere

The strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core

Outer Core

The liquid layer of the Earth's core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core

Inner Core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth

Crust

The thin and solid outermost layer of earth above the mantle

Mantle

The thick layer of rock between Earth's crust and core

Tectonic Plates

Pieces of the lithosphere that move around on top of the asthenosphere. They can be made up of continental crust, oceanic crust, or a combination of both types of crust.

Convection

Hot rock deep within the Earth rises at a boundary that has less pressure, cools towards the surface, and sinks

Mid-ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain chain where new ocean floor is formed

Subduction

The sinking of regions of Earth's crust to lower elevations

Uplift

A rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)

Stress

A force that acts on rock to change its shape or volume.

Ring of Fire

Area around the Pacific Ocean known for frequent earthquakes and volcanoes

Hot Spot

Volcanoes far from tectonic plate boundaries

Strike-slip Fault

A fault in which the two fault blocks move past each other horizontally

Convergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other. Can cause the formation of mountains.

Divergent Boundary

A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other

Transform Boundary

The boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally. Can cause earthquakes.

Sea-floor Spreading

When two oceanic plates pull apart, magma rises and new crust is formed

Rift Zone

An area of deep cracks that forms between two tectonic plates that are pulling away from each other

Tension

Stress that stretches rock so that it becomes thinner in the middle.

Compression

Stress that squeezes rock until it folds or breaks

Oceanic Crust

Earths crust located under the ocean that is usually thinner but more dense than continental crust

Continental Crust

Part of earth's crust that contains all continents and major islands, it is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust

Fault

A break or crack in Earth's crust where masses of rock slip past each other.

Volcano

A mountain that forms when magma reaches the surface. Form along plate boundaries that move apart or collide.

Earthquake

The shaking that results from the movement of rock beneath the Earth's surface. Happen at the edges of tectonic plates or faults.

Pangaea

Single large landmass made up of all the continents connected together that broke apart 200 million years ago

Continental Drift

The theory that continents can drift apart from one another and have done so in the past

Boundary

An area where two tectonic plates meet.

Layers of the Earth

Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere, Outer Core, Inner Core