Mid Atlantic Ridge Flashcards
Constructive Plate Boundary Textbook page 6-7
Describe the position of the ridge in relation to Iceland:
The ridge runs through Iceland, it has many volcanoes distributed along the ridge and is very close the the capital Reykjavik.
The ridge is formed due to what type of plate boundary?
Constructive
Which two plates are involved at the ridge?
North American Plate
Eurasian Plate
Describe the positioning of Iceland in relation to the rest of the world:
It is a Nordic island nation, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean.
What is the population of Iceland?
Just over 300,000.
It is very sparsely populated
Give an example of tourism created due to the ridge:
Thingvellir has a visitor centre with a path leading to the Almannagja fault
What is the Longitude and Latitude of Iceand?
64*N
19*W
When do Constructive plate boundaries occur?
Tectonic plates move apart from each other.
How much does the ridge spread annually?
2 - 5 cm per year
Explain, briefly the formation of a constructive volcano:
1 - The upper part of mantle melts and hot molten magma rises
2 - As plates moves away from each other, the molten magma rises to fill the gap and cools to form solid rock
3 - Magma pushes the crust higher to form ridges and rift features, when it erupts lava is runny and spreads before solidifying, leaving a shield volcano; wide base and gentle slope.
What is a shield volcano shape?
Wide base and gentle slopes
What is a Rift Valley?
A land feature caused by constructive plate boundary’s, a steep-sided valley where land drops as plates move apart.
What is a disadvantage of the Mid-Atlantic ridge to the locals?
Unpredictability yet certainty of earthquakes and volcano eruptions - Hundreds of small earthquakes occur weekly.
