Tectonics Flashcards
How are volcanoes formed?
Magma rises through cracks or weaknesses in the Earth’s crust.
Pressure builds up inside the Earth.
When this pressure is released, eg as a result of plate movement, magma explodes to the surface causing a volcanic eruption.
The lava from the eruption cools to form new crust.
Over time, after several eruptions, the rock builds up and a volcano forms.
What is a constructive plate margin?
Two plates move away from each other. Molten rock or magma immediately rise to fill any possible gap and forms a new oceanic crust
What is a conservative plate boundary?
Two plates slide next to each other, they can go in the same direction but go at separate speeds.
What is a destructive plate margin?
A destructive plate boundary is sometimes called a convergent or tensional plate margin. This occurs when oceanic and continental plates move together. The oceanic plate is forced under the lighter continental plate. Friction causes melting of the oceanic plate and may trigger earthquakes.
What is a collision plate boundary?
A destructive plate boundary is sometimes called a convergent or tensional plate margin. This occurs when oceanic and continental plates move together. The oceanic plate is forced under the lighter continental plate. Friction causes melting of the oceanic plate and may trigger earthquakes.
Give me the three types of seismic waves
P waves- vertical movements
S waves- horizontal movements
Surface waves- rippling waves
How do volcanoes function?
A volcano is formed by eruptions of lava and ash.
Volcanoes are usually cone shaped mountains or hills.
When magma reaches the Earth’s surface it is called lava. When the lava cools, it forms rock.
Volcanic eruptions can happen at destructive and constructive boundaries, but not at conservative boundaries.
Some volcanoes happen underwater, along the seabed or ocean floor.
Give me three things that come out of volcanoes
Lahars-mud flows
Ash cloud- toxic
Pyro clastic flows- boiling ash and fire travelling at 200km/hr
Give me 3 causes of the Japanese earthquake
The cost of Sendai, was really close to the epicentre
Wednesday the 9th earthquake happened of 7.2
Made the plate margin move at 2.4m and lifted upwards at 9m
Give me 3 causes of the Japanese tsunami
Happened 2 days after the earthquake hit
More people died in the tsunami
Came in at 800kph
How many casualties of Japan?
Deaths 15,500
Injuries 5,700
Missing 4,800
Social effects of the tsunami
32,000 casualties and left people homeless
Economic effects of the tsunami
$122 billion to repair
Most manufacturing stopped
Plantations lost 40%
Nuclear crisis of the tsunami
Fukushima power plant was hit
killed 50 volunteers
Everyone in a 20km radius most likely to develop cancer
What is the crust?
Outer most layer also as the lithosphere
Solid rock split into tectonic plates
What are the two types of crust?
- Continental crust: forms land granite, low density, between 30 - 50 km in thickness
- Oceanic crust: under the oceans basalt, more dense, between 6 - 8 km in thickness