1Q: plate tectonics Flashcards
it is a theory that explains the different processes that cause formation of didferent geologic features and phenomena.
plate tectonics theory
a german meteorologist and geophysicist, hypothesized and suggested that the landmasses of Earth once merged a supercontinent
Alfred Wegener
the two continents after the separation
laurasia and gondwanaland
states that the earths lithosphere is composed of fragments or plates that interact with one another.
plate tectonics theory
the term tectonic came from the Latin word _____ or Greek word _____ which means to ____’
tectonicus, tektonikos, build
the outermost layer of the earth that is composed of the mantle and the crust
lithosphere
made of various types of rocks and sediments floating on top of the malleable upper mantle that extend from the surface to about 50km deep. it has a density of 2.6g/cm³
crust
thicker and less dense and floats
continental crust
denser and thinner
oceanic crust
the seven major plates
NA, SA, Eurasian, Indo-Australian, African, Antartic, Pacific
intermediate plates
philippine, Caribbean, cocos, nazca, scotia, juan de fuca, and arabian plates
the pacific plate moves for approximately ____
8cm or 3 inches
the north american llate approximately moves at
3cm ir 1 inch
around ___ of earthquakes are felt at plate margins
90%
these waves travel in the interior of the earth
primary and secondary waves
examples of surface waves
rayleigh waves and long waves
what is used to determine the epicenter of an earthquake
the difference in arrival time between the p and s waves
if three recorded measurements were done at different stations, _____ will be used to find its epicenter.
triangulation method
a scottish marine zoologist that led the challenger expedition in 1872
charles wyville thomson
the distribution of volcanoes is mostly found in plate margins which can be either:
constructive or destructive
when a plate goes underneath another
subduction
a series of volcanoes
volcano arc
most of volcano arcs are found here
pacific ring of fire
have been formed due to movements of plates, either apart or toward each other
mountains