All Flashcards
What are the steps of seafloor spreading?
Magma rises, cools, and forms new rock, pushing older crust away from the ridge.
What are the steps of subduction?
One plate slides beneath another, melts into magma, and can lead to volcanic activity.
Define convergent boundary.
A plate boundary where two plates collide.
Define subduction.
The process where a denser plate slides beneath a less dense plate at a convergent boundary.
Define divergent boundary.
A plate boundary where two plates move away from each other.
Define seafloor spreading.
The process of new oceanic crust forming at divergent boundaries as magma rises and cools.
Define transform boundary.
A plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally.
Define fault line.
A fracture in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred.
Define rift valley.
A valley formed by the separation of tectonic plates at a divergent boundary.
Define island arc.
A chain of volcanic islands formed at an oceanic-oceanic convergent boundary.
Define oceanic trench.
A deep depression in the ocean floor caused by subduction at a convergent boundary.
Define Ring of Fire.
A region around the Pacific Ocean characterized by high volcanic and seismic activity due to plate tectonics.
What drives plate movement?
Convection currents in the Earth's mantle.
Explain the significance of plate tectonics.
Shapes Earth's surface, causes earthquakes/volcanoes, influences climate, and distributes resources.
How does subduction contribute to volcanism?
Water released from the subducting plate lowers the melting point of the mantle, creating magma.
What geological features are associated with oceanic-continental convergence?
Mountains and volcanoes.
What geological features are associated with oceanic-oceanic convergence?
Island arcs, oceanic trenches, and volcanoes.
What is the role of magma in seafloor spreading?
Magma rises at divergent boundaries, cools, and solidifies to form new oceanic crust.
How do transform boundaries cause earthquakes?
Friction builds up as plates slide past each other, and the sudden release of energy causes earthquakes.
Why is the Ring of Fire significant?
It is a zone of intense volcanic and seismic activity due to numerous convergent plate boundaries.
How does plate tectonics influence the distribution of natural resources?
Plate movement concentrates mineral deposits and creates geological structures that trap oil and gas.
Explain the relationship between plate boundaries and natural disasters.
Plate boundaries are zones of high seismic and volcanic activity, leading to earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.