2.1 Tectonic Processes vocab 

1 Earthquake: a sudden release of energy inside the Earth that creates seismic waves; usually caused by movement of tectonic plates or volcanic activity.

2 Crust: The outermost layer of rock on Earth

3 Mantle: region of molten rock within the interior of the Earth, between the core and the crust

4 Core: the dense, central region within Earth

5 Seismic: having to do with vibrations of the Earth's crust; earthquakes

6 oceanic crust: the dense, basaltic layer of crust that makes up the bottom of the ocean basins

7 Continental crust: the thicker, less dense crust that makes up the foundation of the continents

8 Continental drift: a theory supported the possibility that continents are able to move over Earth's surface

4 Plate Tectonics: the process where large sections (plates) of the Earth's crust are in constant movement over the fluid mantle, causing earthquakes and volcanoes at the borders between plates 10 Lithosphere: the outermost layer of the Earth's crust

11 Mid ocean ridge: a mountain range with a central valley on an ocean floor at the boundary between two diverging tectonic plates, where new crust forms from rising magma

Paleomagnetic stripes: the pattern of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor due to reversals in the Earth's magnetic field and seafloor spreading.

13 Polarity: having two opposite states of being on either end (such as the North and South pole, or the positive and negative end of a magnet

14 Divergent boundary: where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other

15 Convection current: the movement of fluids by air based on density differences caused by differing temperature

I6 convergent boundary: when two or more tectonic plates come together

17 Subduction: the process where one lithospheric plate slides below another at a convergent plate boundary

18 Trenchia long, narrow and deep depression on the ocean floor with relatively steep sides; caused by convergent plate boundaries

19 Volcano: a mountain or hill with a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapour and gas are being forced from the Earth's crust

20 Tsunami: a seismic sea wave created by an underwater earthquake or volcanic event; not noticeable in the open ocean but building to great heights in shallow waters

21 Hydrothermal vents: an area where cold ocean water that has seeped into the Earth's crust is superheated by underlying magma and forced through vents in the ocean floor

22 Transform boundary: when two tectonic plates are moving in antiparallel direction, creating friction between the plates

23 Abyssal plain: a flat, sandy region of the ocean floor found between trenches and the continental rise