click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Unit 3 Vocab by:Niya
Plate Tectonics
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Asthenosphere | The upper layer of the earth's mantle. |
Subduction | where one plate moves under another and is forced to sink. |
Seafloor spreading | the formation of new areas of oceanic crust. |
Mantle convection | slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle |
Ridge push | gravitational sliding |
Slab pull | motion of a tectonic plate caused by its subduction. |
Lava | molten rock generated by geothermal energy |
Magma | molten or semi-molten natural material from which all igneous rocks are formed |
Tectonic plate | larger number of smaller plates of the Earth's lithosphere |
Theory of continental drift | continents shift position on Earth's surface |
Convergent boundary | two plates moving toward each other |
Divergent boundary | two plates moving away from each other |
Transform boundary | plates slide sideways past each other |
Hot spot | volcanic regions underlying mantle |
Epicenter | he point on the earth's surface vertically above the hypocenter |
Focus | the point where the rocks start to fracture. |
Pangaea | all current land masses |
Geohazard | geological and environmental conditions and involve long-term or short-term geological processes |
Reverse fault | hanging wall has moved upward relative to the footwall |
Strike-slip fault | zones of lateral displacement within the Earth's crust or lithosphere |
Normal fault | two blocks of rock are pulled apart |
Compression | state of being squished down |
Tension | pulling force transmitted axially by the means of a string |
Shearing | movement or pressure applied to an object |
Felsic | denoting a group of light-colored minerals |
Mafic | silicate mineral or igneous rock that is rich in magnesium and iron |