Tectonic Plate Basics
What are tectonic plates?
Large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with one another.
What is the Richter Scale?
A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.
What is a Volcano?
An opening in the Earth's crust through which molten lava, ash, and gases are ejected.
What is a tsunami?
A series of ocean waves caused by large displacements of water, often due to underwater earthquakes.
What is subduction?
The process by which one tectonic plate moves under another and sinks into the mantle.
What is the lithosphere?
The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
Energy waves that travel through the Earth, produced by earthquakes or explosions.
What is magma?
Molten rock located beneath the Earth's surface.
What causes tsunami's?
Sudden disturbances such as underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides.
What is sea-floor spreading?
The process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates move apart.
Name the three types of plate boundaries
Convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries.
Name a famous earthquake and its year
e.g. The San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Name one type of Volcano
Shield volcano, composite volcano, or cinder cone volcano.
What is the primary hazard of an earthquake?
Ground shaking.
What is continental collision?
When two continental plates collide, leading to the formation of mountain ranges.
What is continental drift?
The hypothesis that continents have moved over geological time and were once joined together.
What is the focus of an earthquake?
The point within the Earth where an earthquake originates.
What is the Ring of Fire?
A horseshoe-shaped zone in the Pacific Ocean basin known for its high volcanic and seismic activity.
What is a landslide?
The movement of rock, earth, or debris down a slope, often triggered by earthquakes.
What is transform movement?
The lateral sliding of tectonic plates past one another, causing earthquakes.
How many tectonic plates are there? (major and minor)
The surface of the Earth is divided into 7 major and 8 minor plates.
What is a fault line?
A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which can cause earthquakes.
What is a supervolcano?
A volcano that has had an eruption of magnitude 8 or higher on the Volcanic Explosivity Index.
What are aftershocks?
Smaller earthquakes that occur in the same general area after a larger earthquake.
What is mantle convection?
The slow movement of the Earth's mantle caused by convection currents, driving plate tectonics.