3.1 Flashcards
what is an afetershock
Earthquake that occurs in the same place hours, days or even weeks after a previous earthquake.
what is a continental plate
Plate that consists of a large land surface.
what is convergens
Happens when plates drift towards each other.
what is the epicenter
The point where an earthquake breaks through the Earth’s surface, directly above the hypocentre.
what is a fault
A crack in the earths crust.
what is a flod mountain range
Mountains that form when the Earth’s crust is crumpled and pushed upwards.
what is an oceanic plate
Plate consisting of a large sea surface.
what is the richter scale
Scale for measuring the force of an earthquake.
what is a seismic gap
A place where no heavy earthquakes have occurred compared with the surrounding areas.
what is a seismologist
A scientist who studies earthquakes.
what is subduction
Movement that occurs when an oceanic plate moves under a continental plate.
what is a trench
Long, deep and narrow depression on the ocean floor caused by the subduction of an oceanic plate.
what is an altitude belt
Vegetation zone in a mountain range.
what is divergence
Happens when plates drift away from each other.
hypocenter
Place deep in the Earth’s crust where an earthquake begins.
what is a tree line
Imaginary line between an area with trees and an area with no trees (colder than 10°C in summer).
why is Chile is hit so often by powerful earthquakes
because the Nazca plate, a tectonic plate which moves eastwards with a rate of 6.6 cm per year, collides with the South American plate off the Chilean coast.
how were the andes formed
by two tectonic plates coliding
