week 11 vocab Flashcards
fluid layer of upper mantle, causes crustal plates to move (plate tectonics)
asthenosphere
a material that forms coral skeletons. Material occurs in nature as limestone
calcium carbonate
lighter rock of continents, mostly granite
continental crust
region where two or more plates are pushing together; form mountains, island arc, or trenches
convergent boundary
innermost layer of Earth, composed of a solid inner core of mostly iron, and a liquid outer core that is a little lighter and cooler
core
region where two plates are moving apart; form new ocean or rift valley
divergent boundary
a sudden movement of the Earth’s crust caused by slippage along fractures in the rocks (faults) or volcanic activity
earthquake
the opposing forces of two surfaces trying to move past each other; the energy is released as heat
friction
holes or vents from which steam rushes into the air. It is like a hot spring but lacks liquid water
fumaroles/steam vents
hot springs that erupt periodically. The eruptions is the result of super-heated water below-ground becoming trapped in channels leading to the surface. The hottest temperatures are at the bottom of these channels (nearer the hot rock that heats the water) but the deep water cannot vaporize because of the weight of the water above. Instead, steam is sent upwards in bubbles, collecting in the channel’s tight spots until they essentially become clogged, leading to a point where the confined bubbles actually lift the water above, causing the geyser to overflow.
geyser
a plume of magma rising up from a (relatively) stationary area in the mantle
hot spot
similar to geysers, but their underground channels are large enough to allow rapid circulation of water
hot springs
the mineral (rock) part of Earth, as opposed to the hydrosphere (water) biosphere (living things), and atmosphere (air and other gases) parts of Earth
lithosphere
molten semiliquid rock underground (called lava when it reaches the surface)
magma
main volume of the earth between the crust and the core; increases in pressure and temperature with depth
mantle
hermal areas where water-saturated sediment (similar to clay) is affected by super-heated steam below. Rising steam forces its way upwards through the mud and ground water, bursting upwards sending showers of mud into the air, as if in a small explosion
mudpots
heavy, thinner rock under oceans, mostly basalt
oceanic crust
long, narrow depressions on the seafloor. These chasms are the deepest parts of the ocean—and some of the deepest natural spots on Earth
oceanic trench
force applied all over an object’s area by some mass pushing down on it due to gravity
pressure
a long, narrow valley lying between two plates where the earth’s lithosphere has become thin. Unlike river valleys that form primarily through erosion, rift valleys form by the subsidence (gradual caving in) of the intermediate land as the plates are pulled apart
rift valley
area where a lithospheric plate is descending into the asthenosphere, creating deep trenches
subduction zone
the 12 rigid pieces of Earth’s lithosphere, made of oceanic or continental crust, which move independently of each other
tectonic plates
region where two plates move parallel along each other’s edges in opposite directions
transform boundary
