Geography plate tectonics revision Flashcards
Name at least one major mountain range from each continent.
Asia: Himalayas
North America: Rockies
South America: Andes
Australia: MacDonnell
Antarctica: Vinson Massif
Europe: Alps
Africa: Atlas
Describe the movement of the continents over the earth’s surface over the past 200 million years.
Over the past 200 million years the continents have drifted because of the continental drift.
Name the major plates.
North American plate, Indo- Australian plate, Pacific plate, South American plate, Eurasian plate, Antarctic plate, Indian plate.
Describe the structure of the earth and how the thin nature of the crust combined with convection currents in the mantle makes it possible for the plates to move.
The earth has a structure of a thin crust, with hot magma underneath, mixed with currents under the crust makes the plates to move around, or drift.
Explain at least 3-4 scientific discoveries which provide strong evidence that continental drift and plate tectonics really does happen and that it is not just a crazy theory.
Fossil record, the continents fitting together like a puzzle and mountain ranges.
Describe the tectonic processes at 3 main types of plate boundaries:
(Convergence/ Destructive, Divergence/Constructive, Transform/Conservative).
(give an example of each)
At convergent plate boundaries, oceanic crust is often forced down into the mantle where it begins to melt. A divergent boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move away from each other. a transform boundary occurs when tectonic plates slide horizontally past each other.
Draw neat, accurate & well-labelled diagrams to show the types of plate boundaries above.
diagram:
For each of these types of plate boundaries, you must be able to give an example of a place in the world which has this type of plate boundary. Be able to name the country and the names of the 2 plates involved.
Divergent: mid atlantic ridge, North American and Eurasian plates.
Convergent: South America, Nazca plate.
Transform: North and south sides of the Caribbean plate.
What is a subduction zone? Be able to give an example by naming a place, country, plates involved etc.
A subduction zone is a collision between two plate tectonics. eg. the pacific ocean.
What is meant by ‘recycling’ of plates? Why are oceanic plates newer than continental plates?
The earths crust is “recycled” when it melts and becomes part of the mantle in a subduction zone, and oceanic plates are newer because they’re the ones that go into the mantle.
Why do most volcanoes & earthquakes occur at plate boundaries? Give examples of places where people live with knowledge that major volcanic eruptions or earthquakes are likely to occur.
Because the plate tectonics are either colliding or moving away from each other, and this creates movement under the crust which makes earthquakes and volcanoes. eg. Indonesia is a likely place for earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Name the main products of volcanic eruptions. ie: the types of material that can be ejected from their vents.
ash, lava, and gas.
What is the ‘Hot Spot’ theory? Give one major example of a ‘hot spot’.
It’s a theory that suggests that hotspots form over especially hot places in the mantle. eg. the Hawaiian islands were formed on hot spots.
Define: Epicentre, Focus, Magnitude (& Richter Scale), Intensity (& Mercalli Scale).
Epicentre: the place on the earths surface where the earthquake is felt.
Focus: the plate in the earths crust where the earthquake originated from.
Magnitude (Richter scale):
Intensity (Mercalli scale):
Define: Cone, vent, magma chamber, secondary cone.
Cone: A triangle shaped hill that is built up from pilled up volcanic material.
Vent: An opening at the earth’s surface that magma passes through.
Magma: lava under the earths surface.
Chamber: the place beneath the vent where molten rock is stored.
secondary cone: build up around secondary vents.
