earths dynamic crust and interior Flashcards
Asthenosphere
the upper layer of the earth’s mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
continental crust
the relatively thick part of the earth’s crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust.
convergent plate boundary
an area where plates move toward one another and collide
crust
Earth’s outermost layer.
divergent plate boundary
where two plates are moving apart, magma comes up to create new crust
earthquake
The shaking that results from the movement of rock beneath Earth’s surface.
epicenter
Point on Earth’s surface directly above an earthquake’s focus
faulted
Rock layers that are offset or displaced along a type of crack called a fault.
folded
the bends in layered rock due to movement in the lithosphere; a type of deformed rock
hot spot
An area where magma from deep within the mantle melts through the crust above it
inner core
A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth
island arc
A string of islands formed by the volcanoes along a deep ocean trench
lithosphere
A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust.
mantle
The layer of hot, solid material between Earth’s crust and core.
mid-ocean ridge
An underwater moutain chain where new ocean floor is formed
Moho
the boundary between the earth’s mantle and crust
oceanic crust
earths crust located under the ocean
ocean trench
Deep valley in the ocean floor that forms along a subduction zone
original horizontality
the principle that sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal or nearly horizontal layers
outer core
A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
p-waves
A type of seismic wave that compresses and expands the ground.
plate tectonic theory
the theory that the lithosphere is broken up into large plates that move and then rejoin; considered the unifying theory of geology
Plate (lithospheric plates)
large pieces of Earth’s lithosphere that move over the asthenosphere
s-waves
A type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side
seismic wave
vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
subduction
The process by which oceanic crust sinks beneath a deep-ocean trench and back into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary.
transform plate boundary
Boundary between two plates that are sliding past each other.
tsunami
A giant wave usually caused by an earthquake beneath the ocean floor.
uplifted
raised up
volcanic eruption
The release of material from under Earth’s crust to its surface
volcano
a mountain or hill, typically conical, having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are being or have been erupted from the earth’s crust.
