Definitions Flashcards
Seismic waves
A seismic wave is a type of wave that is generated by an earthquake or other seismic activity. It is a form of energy that travels through the Earth’s crust and measured by a seismograph.
Continental drift
The continental drift theory was made by a German meteorologist named Alfred Wegener. He proposed that the continents were breaking apart and rejoining in a process that he called continental drift.
Pangaea
Pangaea or Pangea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, forming 300 million years ago.
Supercontinent
A landmass made up of most or all of Earth’s land
Panthalassa
The Superocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea.
Plate tectonics (aka. Tectonic plates)
Gigantic pieces of the Earth’s crust and uppermost mantle. They are made up of oceanic crust and continental crust.
Mantle
The thick layer of hot, solid rock between the Earth’s crust and the molten iron core. The mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth and is the second most outer layer.
Convection current
A convection current is a flowing fluid that moves due to a temperature or density difference within the material.
Continental crust
The continental crust is the outermost layer of the earth’s lithosphere. It forms the landmasses and the continents on Earth. It is rich in silicates and aluminum minerals.
Oceanic crust
The oceanic crust is the outermost layer of Earth’s lithosphere that is found under the oceans and formed on mid-ocean ridges. It is rich in magnesium and silicate minerals.
Ocean ridge
The ocean ridge is an underwater mountain range formed by the tectonic plates that are constantly altered and moved by the heat from the Earth’s core.
Subduction
Subduction is a geological process in which one tectonic plate moves beneath another plate and is forced to sink into the mantle. This process often leads to the formation of volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain ranges.
Laurasia
Laurasia was a supercontinent during the Mesozoic Era, comprising most of the landmasses that now make up the Northern Hemisphere. It existed alongside another supercontinent, Gondwana, which comprised the Southern Hemisphere. Over time, Laurasia split apart into the continents of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Gondwanaland
A supercontinent believed to have formed 800 to 650 million years ago
Anticline
When compressional forces result in a bend upwards
Syncline
When compressional forces result in a bend downwards
Fault
A fault is a fracture or break in the Earth’s crust where the rock on either side has moved relative to the other. This movement can be caused by tectonic plate movement or other geological forces.
Rift valley
A rift valley is a geological formation that occurs when the Earth’s crust is pulled apart by tectonic forces, creating a long, narrow depression or valley.
Horst
A horst is a geological feature that is formed by the movement of tectonic plates. It is a raised block of land that is bounded by fault lines on either side. It is commonly found in areas of active tectonic activity, such as along the edges of continents or mountain ranges.
Slip fault
A slip fault, also known as a dip-slip fault, is a type of fault where the rock on one side of the fault plane moves vertically in relation to the other side, typically due to tension in the Earth’s crust.
Epicentre
The point on the Earth’s surface above the focus
Focus
The point inside the crust where the pressure is released.
Seismograph
An instrument that measures and records details of earthquakes, such as force and duration. It plots this data on a seismogram.
Richter scale
The strength, or magnitude of an earthquake is measured using the Richter Scale ranging from 0-10. Every