| Term | Definition |
|
LITHOSPHERE |
This is a layer of Earth made up of the crust and the solid portion of the upper mantle. |
|
ASTHENOSPHERE |
This is that portion of the upper mantle where lateral motion of the convection current exists. |
|
PLATE |
This is a piece or section of lithosphere. |
|
CRUST |
This is the solid, uppermost layer of Earth. |
|
CONVECTION CURRENT |
This is the part of the mantle that circulates due to the heat of Earth's core. |
|
MOUNTAIN |
This is the name given to any part of Earth's surface that rises high above the surrounding land (usually 1000 ft above). |
|
VOLCANO |
This is what we call anywhere molten rock rises to the surface. |
|
MIDOCEAN RIDGE |
this is the raised surface of the crust above an upwelling. It is similar to a mountain. |
|
UPWELLING |
This is that portion of a convection current that is rising due to the heat of the core. |
|
RIFT VALLEY |
This is the lower portion of the crust between crests of the ridge. |
|
FOLDED MOUNTAINS |
This is the result of a continental-continental collision. The Himalaya Mountains are a good example of this. |
|
OCEANIC |
This refers to a plate made up of ocean floor crust. |
|
CONTINENTAL |
This refers to a plate made up of continental crust. |
|
RING OF FIRE |
This refers to the belt or chain of volcanoes and earthquakes surrounding the Pacific Ocean. |
|
CONVERGENCE |
This refers to colliding plates or zones (regions) where this occurs. |
|
DIVERGENCE |
This refers to plates breaking apart and moving away from each other or zones (regions) where this occurs. |
|
TRANSFORM |
This refers to the type of movement or region where plates slide past each other. |
|
TRENCH |
This is a deeper area of the ocean above a subduction zone. |
|
SUBDUCTION |
This refers to the process of one plate moving beneath another. |