Lesson 1 Tectonic Plates Flashcards
Solar Nebula Theory
proposes that the solar system was formed from a large cloud gases 10-20 billion years ago
gravitational forces pulled particles from the outer edges towards the center
the sun was formed at the center
the planet Earth together with the other planets was formed
Early Earth
4.5 billion years ago
hot and no water on its surface
cannot sustain life
Volcanic activity
caused the release of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen
collision of plate tectonics
creation and deformation of plate tectonics
bombardment from metereorites
Results of the Cooling Process
the Earth solidified into crust
Gases dissolve into the rain water
Distribution of water into Earth’s surfaces forming oceans, rivers, seas, and lakes
Oxidizing Atmosphere
most significant development of Earth
contains molecular oxygen but at first oxygen was poisonous
gradual accumulation led to complete oxygen dependence of oxygen for life
open the door for the evolution of Aerobics Organisms
Plate Tectonics
came from Greek word “tekton” which means carpenter or builder
also called lithospheric plate
massive irregular slabs of solid rocks
states that Earth’s outermost layer into dozen or more large and small plates
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
first world Atlas
gave rise to theory of plate tectonics
Ortelius suggested that America wasb orginially connected to Europe and Africa
Continental Plate
- mainly composed of granite rock
lighter than oceanic plate
Oceanic Plate
mainly composed of basalt and gabbro rock
younger than cont. rock
Raisin Theory
Earth is like a grape that contracted into a raisin
Continental Drift Theory
proposed by Alfred Wegener
Earth’s crust are slowly deposited atop of a liquid core
accounts for diastrophic movement and for folding and faulting
Pangea
proposed by Alfred Wegener
all continents were once enormous, single landmass 1,100 million years ago
divided into Laurasia and Gonwanaland
Volcanoes
opening though the Earth’s surface through where rock fragments, lava, and other materials are emitted during an eruption
Magma Chamber
where magma, rocks, gases and water are mixed up
Vent
the pathway of magma and other materials
Crater
the opening of a volcano
Location of Volcanoes
Divergent Boundaries
Convergent Boundaries
Hotspots
Convergent Boundaries
plates move toward each other forming subduction zones. One plate melts under the other and magma moves upward from the volcanoes
Divergent Boundaries
plates move toward each other, as they move long cracks (rift) are formed and lava builds up to form volcanoes
Hotspots
magma originated in the mantle or the outer core will move upward , breaking the surface and to form volcanoes
Earthquakes
sudden movement of the earth’s lithosphere
vibration of the earth due to rapid release of energy
Focus\ Hypocenter
place within Earth where the earthquakes originated
Epicenter
point on the Earth’s crust directly above the focus
Parts of an Earthquake
Focus
Epicenter
Fault Line
Fault Plane
Normal Fault
hanging wall moves downward relative to the footwall
Reverse Fault
hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall
Strike Slip Fault
plates are sliding against each other in a left and right lateral
Fault
crack across which the rocks have been offset first
Seismic Waves
Earthquake waves
Seismologists study them and determine the magnitude of an Earthquake
Surface Wave
travelling through the surface of the Earth
Love Waves
moves the ground from the side to side
Rayleigh Waves
rolls around the ground
Body Waves
travelling within the Earth’s interior
Primary Waves
moves through solids and fluids
fastest wave with a speed of 2.5 -4 km
longitudinal wave
Secondary Wave
moves through solids only
slower than P waves
Seismograph
measuring device that records seisomogram
seismogram
is a record of seismic waves
seismology
the study of an earthquake
seismologists
people who study earthquakes
Tsunamis
Japanese word meaning “ harbor wave”
seabed is lowered or lifted by the sea bed
orogenesis
came from the Greek word “ oros” which means mountain and “ genesis” meaning creation
Stages of Mountain Building
Accumulation of Sediments
Orogenic Period
Period of Crustal Faulting
Accumulation of Sediments
Weathering and Erosion
igneous rock and sedimentary rocks are converted into sediments and deposited into layers that can reach up to several km
Accumulation of Sediments pt 2
Lithification
sediments are converted into hard stones
Orogenic Period
deformation of the sediments
Period of Crustal Uplift
Isostasy
the rocks from the higher area are eroded into the lower region causing the higher region to become lighter and the lower region will sink
Period Crustal Uplift pt 2
Block Faulting
tensional forces exist horizontally causing plates to break down into smaller blocks
Catastrophism
George Cuvier
Influenced by biblical interpretations
Uniformatism
James Hutton
Influenced by scientific interpretations
