Plate Tectonics: A Deeper Dive
This type of seismic wave travels through Earth's interior and cannot pass through liquids, providing evidence for the outer core's state.
What are S-waves (secondary waves)?
This specific metamorphic texture is characterized by the segregation of minerals into distinct light and dark bands.
What is gneissic banding?
Layered sedimentary rocks are arranged according to this geological principle.
What is the Principle of Superposition?
This type of seismic wave travels fastest and can pass through both solids and liquids.
What are P-waves (primary waves)?
A sudden flow of volcanic debris and water down the slopes of a volcano.
What is a lahar?
This term describes the point on Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake.
What is the epicenter?
This process, involving the gradual change in magma composition as minerals crystallize and settle out, explains the diversity of igneous rocks.
What is magmatic differentiation?
This term describes a break in the rock record, representing periods of erosion or non-deposition.
What is an unconformity?
The bending of seismic waves as they pass from one Earth layer to another with different properties.
What is refraction?
Instruments used to detect and record seismic waves from earthquakes.
What are seismographs?
The asthenosphere's ability to flow like a viscous fluid is described by this rheological property.
What is ductility?
This term describes the alteration of rocks by chemically active fluids, often associated with ore deposits and metamorphism.
What is hydrothermal alteration?
Evaporites, like gypsum and rock salt, are classified as this type of sedimentary rock.
What are chemical sedimentary rocks?
The zone where no P-waves or S-waves are detected due to the presence of the liquid outer core.
What is the seismic shadow zone?
Retrofitting buildings to make them more resistant to earthquake damage is known by this term.
What is seismic retrofitting?
According to EBSCO, This principle explains the vertical adjustment of Earth's crust to maintain buoyant equilibrium with the mantle, analogous to icebergs floating in water.
What is isostasy?
The order in which minerals crystallize from a cooling magma, a concept developed by N.L. Bowen.
What is Bowen's Reaction Series?
The formation of shale requires the deposition of fine-grained sediments in this type of low-energy environment.
What is a quiet water environment (like a lake bed or deep ocean floor)?
The study of Earth's magnetic field provides information about the convection of this layer.
What is the outer core?
While short-term prediction remains elusive, scientists use statistical analysis to forecast the probability of earthquakes occurring in a region within a certain timeframe, referred to as this.
What is long-term earthquake forecasting?
Beyond slab pull and ridge push, the resistance offered by the surrounding mantle to the descending slab also contributes to plate movement and is described by this force.
What is slab suction (or mantle resistance)?
The formation of diamonds requires exceptionally high pressure and temperature, conditions typically found in this specific mantle rock.
What is kimberlite?
This specific process of chemical weathering is crucial in the formation of caves within limestone, a type of sedimentary rock.
What is dissolution (or carbonation)?
The increase in temperature with increasing depth within the Earth is known by this term.
What is the geothermal gradient?
This term describes the tendency of slopes to fail and cause landslides, influenced by factors like water content and angle of repose.
What is slope stability?