Keywords - Earth Sciences Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Seismic waves

A

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth’s crust and are caused by earthquakes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Continental drift

A

Movement of the plates of the Earth’s crust in relation to each other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Pangaea

A

A supercontinent that existed 225 million years ago, where all of the land masses that existed were joined together.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Panthalassa

A

The vast sea that surrounded the supercontinent Pangaea.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Plate tectonics

A

The theory concerning the movement of the continental plates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Mantle

A

The thick layer of magma below the crust. Most of the mantle is solid rock, although the upper part is molten rock called magma.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Convection current

A

A circular movement that occurs when Warner, less dense fluid particles rise and cooler, denser fluid particles sink.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Continental crust

A

The plates of the Earth’s crust that make up the land.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Oceanic crust

A

One of the types of crust that make up the Earth’s outer layer. Oceanic crust is thinner than continental crust, and made up of dense, heavy rocks such as basalt.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Ocean ridges

A

An area where the tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise, forming underwater volcanoes and creating new seafloor crust as it is cooled and solidified by the sea water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Subduction

A

Process in which two tectonic plates push against each other, and oceanic crust sinks below the less dense continental crust.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Laurasia

A

One of the two smaller continents created when Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Gondwanaland

A

One of the two smaller continents created when Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Tremor

A

Small vibrations on the Earth’s surface, caused by earthquakes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Epicentre

A

The point on the Earth’s surface directly above where an earthquake originates.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Focus

A

The point at which an earthquake begins.

17
Q

Seismograph

A

An instrument used to detect and measure the intensity of an earthquake.

18
Q

Richter scale

A

A scale that measures the amount of energy released in an earthquake.

19
Q

Seismologist

A

A scientist who studies earthquakes.

20
Q

Tsunami

A

A powerful ocean wave triggered by an an underwater earth movement.

21
Q

Meltdown

A

The melting of a nuclear reactor core as a result of a serious nuclear incident.