A2 Geography Plate tectonics

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Hot spot
A point on the surface of the Earth located above a plume of rising magma. The Hawaiian islands lie above such a spot.
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Plate
The lithosphere( the crust of the Earth and the upper part of the mantle) is divided into a number of segments. These rigid slabs float on the underlying asthenosphere and are moved by convection currents within it.
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Plate tectonics
A theory that attempts to explain the formation and distribution of the Earth's major structural features in terms of a series of plates that make up its surface.
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Seismic waves
Shock waves released by the rupture of rock strata at the focus of an earthquake. They travel through the rocks and are measured and recorded on a seismograph.
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Tsunami
Sea waves which can be very large generated by shallow focus underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, underwater debris, slides and large landslides into the sea.
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Volcano
An opening or vent through which magma molten rock ash or volatiles erupt on to the surface of the Earth.
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Constructive plate margins
Where plates move apart: in oceanic areas they produce mid ocean ridges in continental crust they are rift valleys
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Oceanic ridges
Longest continuous uplifted features on the surface of the planet and have a total length of 60,000km.
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Rift valleys
Brittle crust fractures as sections of it move apart
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Oceanic/continental convergence
Where oceanic and continental plates meet, the denser oceanic plate is forced under the lighter continental one. This is known as subduction.
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Ocean trench
The downwarping of the oceanic plate forms a very deep part of the ocean known as a trench.
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Fold mountains
Sediments that have accumulated on the continental shelf on the margin of the land mass are deformed by folding and faulting which is uplifted to form fold mountains.
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Oceanic/oceanic convergence
Where oceanic plates meet one is forced under the other
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continental/continental convergence
When the plates move towards each other their sediments are forced upwards into fold mountains.
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Conservative margins
Where two crustal plates slide past each other and the movement of the plates is parallel to the plate margin.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

The lithosphere( the crust of the Earth and the upper part of the mantle) is divided into a number of segments. These rigid slabs float on the underlying asthenosphere and are moved by convection currents within it.

Back

Plate

Card 3

Front

A theory that attempts to explain the formation and distribution of the Earth's major structural features in terms of a series of plates that make up its surface.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Shock waves released by the rupture of rock strata at the focus of an earthquake. They travel through the rocks and are measured and recorded on a seismograph.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Sea waves which can be very large generated by shallow focus underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, underwater debris, slides and large landslides into the sea.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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