Tectonic Impacts

Question 0

What are the characteristics of continental plates?

Answer 0

40-65km thick, less dense 2.7 g/cm, light coloured felsic rocks, granite

Question 1

What are the characteristics of oceanic plates?

Answer 1

3-15km thick; dense 3 g/cm, dark coloured magic rocks, basalt and gabbro, 175 million years old (young)

Question 2

What is the igneous rock type at a divergent boundary?

Answer 2

Basaltic (mafic)

Question 3

What is the igneous rock at an oceanic to oceanic convergent boundary?

Answer 3

Basaltic early and as it matures andesite

Question 4

What is the igneous rock type at oceanic to continental convergent boundary?

Answer 4

Andesite

Question 5

What is the igneous rock type at a continental to continental convergent boundary?

Answer 5

Granite (placed as plutons)

Question 6

Describe the volcanic activity at a convergent boundary

Answer 6

Andesitic volcanism, magma rich in silica and high viscosity

Question 7

Describe volcanic activity at a divergent boundary.

Answer 7

Basaltic lava low in silica and low in viscosity

Question 8

What are the hypothesis’ which drive plate movement?

Answer 8

Convection, gravity, ridge push (subduction) and slab pull (sea floor spreading)

Question 9

An example of an oceanic divergent boundary

Answer 9

The mid Atlantic Ocean ridge

Question 10

An example of a continental divergent boundary

Answer 10

Great Rift Valley in Africa

Question 11

An example of an ocean to ocean convergence

Answer 11

Tonga where the pacific plate is being sub ducted beneath we the Philippine plate

Question 12

An example of ocean to continent convergence

Answer 12

Nazca plate and South America plate

Question 13

Example of continent to continent convergence

Answer 13

Himalayas (fold mountains)

Question 14

Example of transform boundary

Answer 14

San Andreas Fault

Question 15

When did the evolution of Australia start?

Answer 15

3800 million years ago in the age of archea

Question 16

Which two cratons begun the growth of Australia?

Answer 16

Pilbarra and Yilgarn

Question 17

How was the east formed?

Answer 17

Subduction zones, volcanic activity caused belts, these were filled in by sediments and compression forces resulted in mountain building (the great dividing range)

Question 18

Where was the last area of growth?

Answer 18

The Sydney basin cratonised by the end of the Triassic

Question 19

What are the names of the two super continents?

Answer 19

Rodinia and Pangea

Question 20

Name the Australian plate and those surrounding it

Answer 20

Indo-Australian plate
Eurasian to the north
Pacific to the east
African to the west

Question 21

Describe the plate movements of the surrounding plates.

Answer 21

Convergent north with pacific
Divergent south with Antarctic
Transform to the east

Question 22

Identify the hazards associated with earthquakes

Answer 22

Ground motion
Tsunamis
Collapse of structures

Question 23

Identify the hazards associated with volcanoes

Answer 23

Poisonous gases
Ash flows
Lahars
Lava flows

Question 24

Name two methods of earthquake prediction

Answer 24

Laser beams detect plate movement | Radon gas escapes from cracks in the earths crust

Question 25

Name two methods for volcano prediction

Answer 25

Seismology - tracking rise of magma and it's movement along fissures Tilt metre - laser beam sensor measures changes in ground elevation

Question 26

Describe the physical characteristics of a volcanic region

Answer 26

Mountainous, high temperature lavas

Question 27

Describe the chemical characteristics of a volcanic region

Answer 27

Soils rich in phosphates, mostly water vapour and some carbon dioxide, minor levels of sulphur, chlorine and fluorine

Question 28

Describe the biotic features of a volcanic region

Answer 28

Volcanic soil fertile so wide distribution and abundance of plants Limited animals due to lava and pyro clastic flows, gases and high temperatures

Question 29

Reasons for continued research into disaster prediction

Answer 29

Lives saved, possessions, scientists gain greater understanding

Question 30

Reasons against continued research into disaster prediction

Answer 30

Costly, wastage of resources? List of technologies exhausted?

Question 31

Describe the 2010 Canterbury Earthquake

Answer 31

Magnitude 7.1 40km west of Christchurch city Originated along the alpine fault, where the indo-Australian and pacific plate meet at a transform boundary Country highly susceptible to reoccurring earthquake activity Future - early warning systems, increased building restrictions, safety tips on infomercials

Question 32

Describe the impacts of volcanic eruptions on climate

Answer 32

As the gases hit the stratosphere it impacts global climate Local climate - darkness, rainfall, lightening Carbon dioxide heats as a greenhouse gas Sulphur dioxide as an aerosol cools