The Restless Earth Flashcards
Name the 4 layers of the Earth
Inner core
Outer core
Mantle
Crust
Name the two main types of crust
Oceanic and continental
What are the characteristics of the oceanic crust
Very dense
Thin 5-10km
Can sink into mantle
Easily destroyed
Young crustal material
What are the characteristics of the continental crust
Less dense (lighter)
Thick 30-70k
Does not sink easily into mantle
Hard to destroy
Old crustal material
What is the plate tectonics theory
Proposes that the earths crust is split into sections called tectonic plates. Plates move around on top of the mantle. The places were plates meet, called plate margins are related to seismic and volcanic activity
Why do plates move
Convection currents
The earths core is extremely hot, causes rock in mantle to melt and form magma
Magma closest to the core is hottest and less dense than magma above it.
Therefore rises towards earths surface
As it moves further away from the core it cools down becoming less dense and sinking again
As this magma cycles around and moves the plates move with it
This process repeats moving the plates
Name 4 plate margins
Constructive - plates are pushed apart so move away from each other and new crust is created
Destructive- oceanic plate crashes into another plate and oceanic crust is pushed into mantle and destroyed
Collision- where two sections of continental crust crash into each other and both are pushed upwards to form a vast mountain range.
Conservative- where plates slide past each other. Crust in neither created or destroyed.
Process landforms and examples of constructive plate boundary
Plates move away from each other due to convection currents
This creates a gap between plates
New magma from the mantle rises up to fill gap
The rising material causes crust to rise slightly at either side of paste margin creating a mid ocean ridge. Underwater shield volcanoes may be formed and grow with each eruption creating islands.
Example, mid Atlantic ridge
Process, landforms and examples of destructive plate boundary between oceanic and continental plates.
Plates move together due to convection currents
Heavier more dense oceanic plate is forced underneath the lighter continental plate (subduct), this creates a deep ocean trench e.g Peru chile trench
This area is called a subduction zone as the movement between plates is not smooth friction builds up causing earthquakes.
The heat from the mantle can melt oceanic crust that is sinking which quickly turns into magma.
Magma is less dense so rises to the surface as an explosive form of magma. If it breaks through the surface volcanoes can be created causing eruptions.
As plates are pushed together it can create fold mountains e.g Andes mountain range.
Process landforms and examples of destructive oceanic plates boundary
More dense or heavier oceanic plate sinks below into mantle
This creates a deep ocean trench.
Magma the rises upwards may erupt through crust to create a volcanic island. Islands arc aligned to plate boundary
Collision boundary process, landforms and examples
Two continental crust plates are forced together by convection currents. Plates have similar densities so neither is forced under therefore the plates push each other and crumple and fold upwards.
This creates high mountains called fold mountains. No material melting so no volcanoes, but there are earthquakes.
Indian plate and Eurasian plate collision caused the formation of the Himalayas.
Conservative plate boundary process, landforms and examples
Plates slide past each other. As they pass the plates get stuck, friction and pressure builds until eventually the plates jerk free causing an earthquake. This also happens if the plates are moving in the same direction but move at different speeds.
As crust is neither created or destroyed there or no volcanoes
Example of conservative plate margin: San Andreas fault in California.
Name 3 main rock types
Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic
How are igneous rocks formed?
Molten lava or magma cools and hardens.
If lava is exposed on surface it will cool quite quickly producing few if any crystals.
If the igneous rock is made from magma that cools slowly underground, then large crystals may form.
What are examples of igneous rocks in NI.
The giants causeway- basalt
The Mournes- granite
