Weathering & Erosion
Name a type of weathering.
water, wind, gravity, vegetation, extreme temperatures
What is convection?
the process of heat transfer through fluids
What is an example of a convergent boundary?
the boundary between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, or South America and the Nazca Plate.
What happens at a divergent boundary?
plates move apart
What is subduction?
when an oceanic plate moves under a continental plate.
water, wind, gravity
How does convection contribute to the movement of tectonic plates?
it creates currents in the mantle that push plates apart
What geological feature is commonly formed at convergent boundaries?
mountains
Give an example of a location where a divergent boundary is occurring.
the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
What are the effects of subduction on Earth's surface?
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
Why is Mount Mitchell shrinking?
It is very old and has been weathered and eroded over millions of years.
Describe how convection currents operate in the Earth's mantle.
hot material rises, cools, and then sinks again
Explain how the Himalayas were formed
the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate
What geological feature is typically associated with divergent boundaries?
mid-ocean ridge
rift valley
Name a famous subduction zone.
The Ring of Fire around the Pacific Ocean
How do we know continental drift has happened?
The presence of identical fossil species on continents that are now separated by oceans have been exposed through weathering and erosion.
What causes convection in the mantle?
The earth's core
What is Convergence?
The process of two tectonic plates colliding.
How does sea-floor spreading relate to divergent boundaries?
new oceanic crust is formed as plates pull apart
How does subduction contribute to the rock cycle?
it recycles materials back into the mantle
why do we find sand on beaches by the ocean and not at the top of mountains?
sand on the beach was once rocks, but over millions of years the ocean waves have weathered them into sediment.
Explain how convection can lead to volcanic activity.
it can cause magma to rise to the surface
If two oceanic plates converged, what landform would most likely be created?
mountain under water
As the seafloor spreads, how does magma behave?
Magma rises up, cools and solidifies on the sea-floor.
Explain the connection between subduction and the formation of trenches.
as one plate sinks, it creates a deep ocean canyon/valley which we call a "trench".