VOCABULARY
This is the preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past
What is a fossil?
This is where two plates slide past each other in opposite directions
What is a transform boundary?
Occurring at a convergent boundary, this is when one plate is forced back down into the Earth's mantle by another, less dense plate
What is subduction?
These landforms occur at a convergent plate boundary, where the ocean increases in depth and the oceanic plate is driven under the continental plate
What is a deep ocean trench?
The German scientist who now has the last laugh, his idea that the continents were once one big super-continent that broke apart was rejected during his life
Who is Alfred Wegener?
This is the process by which one tectonic plate sinks beneath a different tectonic plate and back into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary
What is subduction?
In this type of plate boundary, two plates move toward each other; sometimes one pushes the other down, sometimes they both fold upwards
What is a convergent boundary?
Occurring at a transform boundary, this is when edges of plates become locked up and their built up energy violently releases
What is an earthquake?
These landforms occur when an oceanic plate subducts under another ocean plate at a convergent plate boundary.
Seamount island chains
This is the last of the super-continents, and the one from which our current continents formed
What is Pangaea?
This is the process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor
What is sea-floor spreading?
Found at a divergent boundary, this 12,000 mile-long undersea mountain chain is named for the ocean in which it is located
What is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge?
This happens when the continents slowly move across Earth's surface, floating around on the gooey mantle
What is continental drift?
This is causing the Atlantic Ocean to grow as it adds new crust to the ocean floor, and is steadily increasing the distance between New York and London
What is sea-floor spreading?
This is a break in the Earth's crust along which rocks move; you shouldn't feel guilty about it!
What is a fault?
This is the point on the surface of the earth that is directly above the movement/break in the bedrock that caused an earthquake.
What is the epicenter
The San Andreas Fault is found at this type of plate boundary
What is a transform boundary?
These are lines on a map that measure how far east or west a location is
What is longitude?
Meaning "identical on both sides if divided in half", this describes the pattern of magnetic stripes on the sides of mid-ocean ridges
What is symmetrical?
A type of fern, fossils of these are evidence of Wegener's theory of continental drift
What are Glossopteris?
This is a section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over the mantle, carrying pieces of continental and oceanic crust. No, you cannot eat your dinner on it!
What is a tectonic plate?
In this type of boundary, two plates move away from each other, creating a gap from which magma can escape
What is a divergent boundary?
This is the landform that is present in East Africa as a result of a divergent plate boundary on continental crust
What is a Rift Valley
These reptiles did NOT live in the sea, nor could they swim across it. Their widely scattered fossils are further evidence of continental drift
What are lystrosaurus?
This constant melting and cooling of rock is what causes the continents to move and drift across the Earth's surface
What are convection currents?
This is an undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced at a divergent plate boundary
What is a mid-ocean ridge?
In this boundary, crust is destroyed as it is driven into the mantle.
What is a convergent boundary?
These are maps that use contour lines to show elevation.
What is a topographic map?
This is the property of oceanic crust that causes it to be subducted underneath continental crust.
What is high density?
This is person developed maps of the ocean floor, where an underwater mountain range was discovered. Their maps were an important piece of evidence that supported continental drift.
Who is Marie Tharp?