chapter 4 science Flashcards
The oceanic ridge system
Consists if broad areas of shallower seafloor
Paradigm shift
A fundamental change in the way we think about something
Ridge system
Source of volcanic activity
Narrow deep oceanic trenches
Found in ocean basins
Where is the ocean floor the youngest?
Oceanic ridges
Where is the ocean floor the oldest?
Along the edges of the oceans
Decompression melting
Partial melting below oceanic ridges is a result of a reduction in pressure
Seafloor spreading
New oceanic lithosphere is being continuously formed along the ridge system by magma rising from below and as this occurs the existing rocks move away from the ridge
Divergent boundaries
Locations where tectonic plates move apart and new lithosphere is created
Convergent boundaries
Locations where tectonic plates move toward one another and where lithosphere may be consumed by the process of subduction
Transform boundaries
Places where slabs of lithosphere slide past one another
ocean continent boundaray
convergent boundries
subduction zones
causes melting and volcanism
ocean ocean
convergent boundiray
creates island arcs
Why do divergent plates occur?
Hot rising mantle rock causes the rocks to move apart
continent continent
contiental crust clogs a subduction zone, shorter and thicker
