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Plate tectonics
explains earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, locations of
diff. rock types, locations of minerals, climate, evolution of
species, likely regions of natural hazards
TERM 2
Internal Structure of the Earth
DEFINITION 2
radius- 6000 km,
TERM 3
Inner Core
DEFINITION 3
solid, made of iron nickel sulfur oxygen
TERM 4
Outer core
DEFINITION 4
liquid, similar composition of inner core. average density
TERM 5
Mantle
DEFINITION 5
mostly solid but shows plastic movement. iron magnesium
silicate minerals. density 4.5, rock type is perioditate
Crust
lightest rock. wide variety of siliicate minerals. O AL Si Na Ca
K Fe Mg separated from mantle by the MOHO* sound waves
speed up when reaching the the moho because the density is
higher
TERM 7
Continental
Crust
DEFINITION 7
thicker than oceanic. less dense. average composition a
granite; a.k.a. we live on it
TERM 8
Oceanic
Crust
DEFINITION 8
thinner and denser than continental crust. mainly igneous
basalts; convection cells are constantly creating new and
destroying old
TERM 9
Lithosphere
DEFINITION 9
cool, ridgid outermost layer of the earth. crust is embedded
in it, the plates of plate tectonics
TERM 10
Athensophere
DEFINITION 10
below the lithsophere, hotter, slowly slowing so that paltes
are moving atop it
Plate Tectonics theory
the theory that the earths surface is composed of a mosaic of rigid
plates that are in relative motion and that the processes
associated with this motion can explain much of the earths
geology. large scale processes that deform earths lithosphere
producing landforms like continents mountains and ocean basins.
tectonic processes are driven by forces within the earth
TERM 12
Divergent
DEFINITION 12
new oceanic or continental lithosphere is being created by
upwelling of molten mantle material. may occur at mid-ocean
ridges in the oceans or at continental rift zones on continents.
form mountain ridges with a central rift valley where the plates are
pulling apart. mountain ridges have many volcanic eruptions
typically made of basalt. and are also zones of earthquakes. EX.
mid-atlantic ridge is an oceanic rift zone and East african rift zone
is a continental rift zone
TERM 13
Hot "Smokers"
DEFINITION 13
at the bottom of the ocean. they emitt mineral-rich volcanic
material at mid-ocean ridge
TERM 14
convergent
DEFINITION 14
occur where plates collide. 1) ocean-continent: ocenaic plates
sinks or is subducted beneath thicker continental crust. produces a
subduction zone with volcanoes and earthquakes along trench. EX.
benioff earthquake. 2) Ocean-Ocean- causes a volcanic island
chain 3) continent-continent: two thick massive plates collide and
make mountains.EX. Himalaya mtns. and european alps. San
Andres fault- in 20 million yrs. will be alongside sanfran
TERM 15
Hot Spots
DEFINITION 15
areas characterized by volcanic eruptions from hot material
coming directly from the mantle. not associated with a plate
boundary. Hawaii is a hot spot under the pacific plate,
yellowstone, WY is a hot spot under the NA plate. as crustal
plates move over the hot spot, a chain of volcanoes develops
