Module 1- Vocab

Question 1

Oceanic crust

Answer 1

The portion of the earth’s crust that primarily contains basalt, is relatively dense, and is about 5km deep.

Question 2

Continental Crust

Answer 2

The portion of the earth’s crust that primarily contains granite, is less dense than oceanic crust, and is 20-50 km thick

Question 3

Plate tectonics

Answer 3

A process involving the movement of large plates on the earth’s mantle

Question 4

Mid-ocean ridge

Answer 4

A continuous chain of underwater volcanic mountains encompassing the earth

Question 5

Seafloor spreading

Answer 5

the process that creates new seafloor as plates move away from each other at the mid-ocean ridges

Question 6

Subduction

Answer 6

The downward movement if 1 plate into the earth’s mantle when 2 plates collide

Question 7

Continental shelf

Answer 7

The gently sloped, shallow section of the edge of a continent, extending from the shore to the point where the slope gets steeper

Question 8

Continental slope

Answer 8

The steeper section of a continental edge, extending seaward from the continental shelf

Question 9

Continental rise

Answer 9

The gently sloping area at the base of the continental slope

Question 10

Specific heat

Answer 10

The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of a substance by 1 degree Celsius

Question 11

Salinity

Answer 11

The total amount of salt dissolved in a solvent

Question 12

Coriolis effect

Answer 12

The way in which the rotation of the earth bends the path of winds and resulting sea currents

Question 13

Gyres

Answer 13

Large, mostly circular systems of surface currents driven by the wind

Question 14

Spring tide

Answer 14

A time of largest tidal range due to the gravitational pull of the aligned sun and moon

Question 15

Neap tide

Answer 15

A time of the smallest tidal range due to the moon and the sun being located at right angles to each other