Plate Tectonic Flashcards
What is plate tectonic
It is the Earths crust moving and joining due to the radioactive decay building up heat on the mantle
What was Alfred Wegner theory
The jigsaw fit
What are 3 other pieces of evidence which show that the countries were together
Study of fossils, geological patterns, convection currents and palaeomagnetism
What is the study of fossils.
Similar fossils have been founded on different countries this could not be possible as some animals could not swim across the ocean like the Mesosaurus. This could not of have been possible unless the countries were joined together
What is the study of convection currents
Convection currents drive the movement of Earth’s rigid tectonic plates in the planet’s fluid molten mantle
What are geological patterns
Similar patterns of rock layers on different continents is evidence that mountains were joined together coal was also founded in Antartics which was unusual as it needs a warm climate to form
What is the Jigsaw fit
On a map the countries seem like they were joined together because the sides of some countries seem like it would stick together
What is palaeomagnetism
Magma and volcanos cause the seafloor to spread as lava cools the magnetic iron points north and every 100 million years it switches and the iron points in a different direction
Name 5 plates
Eurasian plate, African plate , South American plate, North American plate , Pacific plate, Indo-Australian plate, Cocos plate,Nazca plate, Juan de fuca plate
What is a divergent boundary
It is when two plates slowly move away an example of this is the Mid Atlantic ridge every year it would move 2cm wider
Convergent boundary
Two plates move towards each other as a result of a convection currents the oceanic plate is more dense then the continental as a result it will sink below this is called subduction. The result of this will cause earthquakes and volcanos.
What is the epicentre
It is the closest point to where the earthquake will be in contact with land
What is the focus
The point where the earthquake happens
What is the Richter scale
The Richter scale is measured by how big the earthquake is it is measured by a seisometer (1small 9big)
What is the Mercalli scale
The Mercalli scale is measured by observations of the resulting damage it goes up by 1 using roman numerals (1 small 12big)
What is a an economic problem which was caused by the Haiti earthquake
Many commercial buildings such as shops, offices,banks and factories were destroyed
What is a primary factor caused by the Haiti earthquake
220,000 people killed 300,000 injured
What is a primary effect of the Montserrat eruption
20 villages and 2/3 of buildings were destroyed because of the lava and fire
What is a positive impact of the Montserrat eruption
Farming is more easy as volcanic ash from the volcano is very fertile and can be used for agriculture also tourism has increased because people want to see the volcano
What is a negative impact of the Montserrat eruption
Younger people have left which left the ageing population this means that the there will be no economic future for Montserrat
What are some hazards from the Montserrat eruption
Lava flows, pyroclastic flows, volcanic ash , voclanic bombs and lahars
How to predict earthquakes
There are many ways to predict earthquakes such as seismographs , GPS device to detect changes to the landscape by as little as 1mm and using rock spiders to collect rock samples
How to be protected against an earthquake
Buildings can be made to counter eartquakes here are some examples, being made into a triangle shape, counter weights ,seismic dampers, shatter proof glass ,reclaimed land ,bracing and strong materials
How to prepare for an earthquake
You can prepare survival kits with items inside to help if an earthquake were to happen you can include food,water,flashlights,batteries,first aid and more . You can also follow specfic steps which is to DROP to the ground - take Cover under a table and HOLD ON to the table by grabbing its leg
What is the stick slip motion
It is when plates rub against another plate (conseravtive plate boundary) but then they get stuck and pressure will build up for many years until the plates break free and cause the plates to flick up which causes an tsunami
Name four biomes
Desert, Tropical Rainforest, Tundra and grasslands
What is the definition of ecosystem
An ecosystem is the study of the living and non living things in an environment where the living things interact between each other and also with the non living environment they are found within.
What are biotic and name at least 3 biotics
The living aspects (which contain energy) such as animals, vegetation, detritivores - millipedes and worms, decomposers bacteria and algae and dead animals and plants