Plate Boundaries Flashcards
Why do tectonic plates move?
- Convection currents
2. Slab pull
Describe the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes.
They are found in belts along plate boundaries e.g The Pacific Ring of Fire and the Mid Atlantic Ridge
What is continental drift?
The theory that the tectonic plates have moved across the earth’s surface through geological time.
What is a tectonic plate?
A slab or piece of the Earth’s crust.
What is the location called where volcanoes are found NOT on a plate boundary?
Hotspot e.g. Hawaii, The Galapagos
On which plate boundaries do volcanoes occur?
Constructive plate boundaries e.g. Iceland
Destructive subduction e.g. Chilie
What type of plate boundary is Iceland on?
Constructive - the plates are moving apart
Which two plates does Iceland sit on?
North American Plate
Eurasian Plate
Name the 4 types of plate boundary.
Constructive
Destructive subduction
Destructive collision
Conservative
What type of plate boundary is the San Andreas fault?
Conservative plate boundary
What type of plate boundary are the Himalayas on?
Destructive collision
What type of plate boundaries are the Andes on?
Destructive subduction
What are the two types of tectonic plate?
Oceanic
Continental
At a destructive plate boundary why does the oceanic plate subduction/sink beneath the continent plate?
The oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate so subducts.
What type of mountains are formed at destructive subduction and destructive collision zones?
Fold mountains e.g. Himalayas and Andes
