Geology Flashcards
Seismic waves
Waves produced by earthquake
Mechanical layers of the earth
Atmosphere Hydrosphere Crust Mantle Outer core Inner core
Compositional layers
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner core
Atmosphere
Blanket of gas surrounding earth to height of 145km. Mostly made up of nitrogen and oxygen
Hydrosphere
Water on earth’s surface
Crust
Included landforms, rocks and soils. Varies from thickness 5-70km. Thinness can be compared to as the skin of apple
Mantle
Partially molten rock. Temp from 500-2000 degrees celcuis. About 2900km thick
Outer core
Molten iron and nickel. Temp between 4000-6000 degrees celcius. About 2300km thick
Inner core
Mostly iron. Solid due to extreme pressure. Temp up to 7000 degrees celcius. About 1200km thick
Continental drift
Theory proposing continents float or drift on denser materials. Continents break apart and rejoin in process
Pangae
Name of the continent when all continents were together.
Panthalasia
Ocean that was surrounding pangae
Continental crust
Makes up continents. 30-70km thick
Oceanic crust
Under oceans
About 6 km thick
Subduction
Oceanic crust pushed under continental crust
Subduction zone
Zone where old oceanic crust pushed downwards towards mantle to form magma.
Destructive plate boundaries
Boundary between converging plates
Constructive plate boundaries
Boundary between divergent plates