Geography key terms

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  • Created by: sefer
  • Created on: 04-11-21 12:48
LITHOSPHERE
This is the solid hard outer rock surface of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
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CONTINENTAL

CRUST
Granitic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the continents. This is the oldest form of crust (1500 million years old +). It is that which forms the visible land masses of earth. It is much thicker than the oceanic crust at between 20 – 70km thick,
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OCEANIC CRUST
Basaltic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the ocean basins. This is the newer form of crust (200 million years old). It is the most uniform crust that is between 6 – 11 km thick, but it is heavier and denser than continental crust. It is made al
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(TECTONIC) PLATE
A section/piece of the earth’s crust that will move under the influence of convection currents.
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PLATE MARGIN

(Plate boundary)
The place at which two tectonic plates meet. There are four different types of plate margin. Constructive Destructive Conservative Collision
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CONTINENTAL

DRIFT
The term that refers to the fact that continents are not stationary, but move across the Earth's surface. Continental drift is one feature of the modern theory of plate tectonics.
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PANGAEA
A former “supercontinent” on the Earth. In the distant past a single large landmass, Pangaea, included all the present continents, which broke up and drifted apart due to the action of continental drift.
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MANTLE
The dense, mostly solid (molten) layer between the outer core and the crust.
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CONVECTION

CURRENTS
The circular currents of heat in the mantle. They are the result of heat rising from the inner part of the Earth to the surface. As they do so they cause the semi-molten rock in the mantle to move, thereby moving the plates above at the surface.
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DESTRUCTIVE

MARGIN
A plate margin where two plates (continental and oceanic) move towards each other, causing the oceanic plate to sink beneath the continental plate (subduction). Features formed: oceanic trench, fold mountains (e.g. the Andes), strato volcanoes and earthqu
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SUBDUCTION ZONE
The place where the oceanic crust sinks beneath the continental crust into the mantle at a destructive margin. The oceanic crust is therefore destroyed in the mantle.
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CONSTRUCTIVE MARGIN
A plate margin where two plates move away from each other thus allowing the magma to rise up through the gap creating new land. Features formed: spreading ridges, shield volcanoes, island arcs, earthquakes and rift valleys.
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CONSERVATIVE

MARGIN
A plate margin where two plates slide alongside each other, either in the same or opposite directions and at different rates/speeds. Crust is neither formed nor destroyed. Features: earthquakes.
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FOLD MOUNTAINS
FOLD MOUNTAINS Large mountain ranges where rock layers of the crust have been crumpled (faulted and folded) as the plates have been forced together either at destructive or collision margins. e.g. The Andes (South America) or the Himalayas (Asia).
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OCEANIC TRENCH
Deep sections of the ocean, usually where an oceanic plate is sinking below a continental plate at a destructive margin. e.g. where the Nazca plate meets the South American plate.
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OCEANIC RIDGE

(spreading ridge)
A continuous submarine mountain chain extending through the world’s oceans. They form a long, active ridge system that marks the site of the upwelling of magma associated with sea-floor spreading. An example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Features: submarine
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VOLCANO
An opening in the Earth’s crust from which lava, ash and gas erupts.
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COMPOSITE CONE

(STRATO)

VOLCANO
A steep-sided, narrow based volcano that is made up of a variety of materials, such as more viscous (thick) lava and ash from a series of more violent and explosive eruptions. E.g. Mount Etna, Mount St Helens, Mt Cotopaxi. (Usually formed at Destructive M
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SHIELD VOLCANO
A broad volcano that is mostly made up of more runny lava from a series of more persistent and gentler eruptions. These are wider in relation to their height with gentle sides, but they can be much larger in size than strato volcanoes. E.g. Hawaii, (Usual
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RING OF FIRE
A significant area around the Pacific Ocean (Pacific Rim) where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. It is a 40,000 km (25,000 mi) horseshoe shape with a series of continuous ocean trenches and volcanic features.
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PYROCLASTIC

FLOW
A fast-moving mixture of superheated lava consisting of air, hot gas and rock which can reach speeds moving away from a volcano of up to 700km/h (450mph).
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Granitic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the continents. This is the oldest form of crust (1500 million years old +). It is that which forms the visible land masses of earth. It is much thicker than the oceanic crust at between 20 – 70km thick,

Back

CONTINENTAL

CRUST

Card 3

Front

Basaltic portion of the Earth's crust that makes up the ocean basins. This is the newer form of crust (200 million years old). It is the most uniform crust that is between 6 – 11 km thick, but it is heavier and denser than continental crust. It is made al

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

A section/piece of the earth’s crust that will move under the influence of convection currents.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

The place at which two tectonic plates meet. There are four different types of plate margin. Constructive Destructive Conservative Collision

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
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