Plate Tectonics Unit 3 Barnhill
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13 terms
English | French |
|---|---|
 Theory of Plate Tectonics | the theory that the Earth's lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move around on top of the asthenosphere because of convection currents |
| Theory of Continental Drift | proposed by Alfred Wegner, that the continents were once joined together in a continent called Pangea and have since drifted apart; evidence from land features, fossils, and climates |
| Convection Current | current in Earth's mantle that transfers heat in Earth's interior and is the driving force for plate tectonics |
| Divergent Boundary | boundary between tectonic plates in which the two plates move away from each other, and new crust is created between them |
| Convergent Boundary | boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building ocean trenches and volcanic islands |
| Transform Boundary | A boundary where two plates rub together vertically or horizontally in opposite directions forming a fault. Earthquakes occur here. |
| Magma | molten rock beneath the earth's surface |
| Lava | magma that reaches Earth's surface |
| Lahar | A mudflow composed of water and volcanic ash. Lahars can be triggered by the flash melting of the snow cap of a volcanic mountain or from heavy rain. Lahars are very dangerous because they can occur suddenly and travel at great speeds. |
| Epicenter | The point on Earth's surface directly above an earthquake's focus. |
| Focus | The point inside Earth where an earthquake begins |
| Seismology | the branch of geology that studies earthquakes |
| Appalachian Mountains | Primary mountain range in the eastern US, rise above the Piedmont - some of the oldest mountains in the world created by convergent boundary upwarping. |
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