Continental Drift and Plate Tectonics Quiz

Alfred Wegener

• Proposed the Continental Drift Theory

Continental Drift Theory

• Explained the movement of continents over time
• Suggested that all the continents were once joined together in a supercontinent called Pangaea

Pangaea

• A supercontinent that existed millions of years ago and broke apart over time

Wegener's Evidences

• The continents fit together like a jigsaw puzzle
• Matching fossils found on different continents
• Similar rock formations on different continents
• Evidence of ancient climates in unexpected locations

Satellites (Laser Geodynamics Satellite) LAGEOS

• Used to measure the movement of Earth's tectonic plates with high precision

Plates

• Huge pieces of Earth's lithosphere that move slowly over time
• Made up of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle

Theory of Plate Tectonics

• Explains the movement of Earth's tectonic plates and their interactions
• This theory is based on the idea that Earth's lithosphere is broken into several large and small plates that move relative to one another

Plates move slowly in different directions and cause different geologic events

• This movement can cause earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and other geological features

Convection Currents

• Movement of molten rock in the mantle
• Drive the movement of tectonic plates

Asthenosphere

• The soft, partially molten layer of the Earth's mantle
• Convection currents in the asthenosphere cause tectonic plates to move

Plate Boundaries

• Places where tectonic plates interact
• These interactions result in various geological activities

Fault

• A fracture or zone of fractures in Earth's crust where rocks have moved relative to one another

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

• Divergent Boundaries, Convergent Boundaries & Transform Boundaries

Divergent Boundaries

• Places where tectonic plates move apart
• Creates new oceanic crust

Tension

• Stretching and thinning of the crust at divergent boundaries

Normal Fault

• A type of fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall
• Found at divergent boundaries

Mid-ocean ridges Rift Valleys Fissure Volcanoes

• Formed at divergent boundaries
• Mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges
• Rift valleys are depressions in the Earth's surface
• Fissure volcanoes are volcanoes that erupt along a crack in the Earth's surface

Convergent Boundaries

• Places where tectonic plates collide
• Denser plate subducts under the less dense plate

Compression

• The squeezing and shortening of the crust at convergent boundaries

Subduction Zone

• Area where an oceanic plate descends beneath another plate

Oceanic-Continental

• Occurs when an oceanic plate subducts beneath a continental plate

Type 1: Oceanic-Continental Type 2: Oceanic-Oceanic Type 3: Continental-Conti- nental

• The three types of convergent boundaries

Oceanic-Oceanic

• Occurs when two oceanic plates collide
• Creates volcanic island arcs and deep ocean trenches

Trench

• A deep, narrow depression in the ocean floor
• Formed at oceanic-oceanic convergent boundaries

Continental-Conti- nental

• Occurs when two continental plates collide
• Creates high mountain ranges

Reverse Fault

• A type of fault where the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall
• Found at convergent boundaries

Transform Boundaries

• Places where tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally

Shearing

• The sliding and grinding of plates along transform boundaries

San Andreas Fault in Califor-

• A famous example of a transform boundary

strike-slip fault

• A type of fault where rocks slide past each other horizontally

Gradation

• The process of wearing down and shaping the Earth's surface

Geomorphic

• Refers to the landforms and processes that shape them

Endogenous

• Processes that originate within the Earth
• Include tectonic processes, volcanic processes, and earthquakes

Igneous Processes

• Processes related to the formation of igneous rocks (from cooling and solidification of magma or lava)

Volcanism

• The eruption of molten rock (magma or lava) onto the Earth's surface

Plutonism

• The cooling and crystallization of magma beneath the Earth's surface

Tectonic Processes

• The movement and interaction of tectonic plates
• Example: Folding and faulting of rocks

Folding

• The bending of rock layers due to compressional forces

Faulting

• The breaking and movement of rock layers due to stress

Lateral Faulting

• Faulting that occurs in a horizontal direction

Earthquakes

• Sudden releases of energy in the Earth's crust, caused by the movement of tectonic plates

Exogenous Processes

• Processes that originate outside of the Earth
• Include weathering, mass wasting, erosion, and deposition

Weathering --> Mass Wasting --> Erosion --> Transporta- tion --> Deposition

• The stages of exogenous processes
• Weathering breaks down rocks
• Mass wasting is the downslope movement of rock and soil
• Erosion is the transportation of weathered material by agents such as wind, water, or ice
• Transportation is the movement of weathered and eroded material
• Deposition is the dropping off of transported material

Geomorphic Agents

• Agents that cause erosion and transportation
• Examples: Wind, water, ice, and gravity

Denudation Processes

• The processes that wear down the Earth's surface

Deposition

• The dropping off, or accumulation of transported material

Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks and minerals at the Earth's surface

1.) Physical or Mechanical Weathering 2.) Chemical Weathering 3.) Biological Weathering

• The three types of weathering

Physical or Mechanical Weathering

• Breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition

Exfoliation

• The peeling off of layers of rock due to pressure release

Frost Wedging

• The freezing and thawing of water in cracks of rocks, expanding the cracks

Salt Wedging

• The growth of salt crystals in cracks of rocks, expanding these cracks

Chemical Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions
• Changes the chemical composition of the rock

Oxidation

• Reaction of minerals in rocks with oxygen, forming oxides

Hydrolysis

• Reaction of minerals in rocks with water, breaking down the minerals

Carbonation and Solution

• The dissolving of rocks by acidic solutions

Biological Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks by living organisms

Roots

• Roots of plants can grow into cracks in rocks, breaking them apart

Lichens

• Lichens produce acids that break down rock and mineral surfaces

Erosion and Transportation

• The movement of weathered material by agents such as wind, water, or ice

Fluvial Morphology

• Landforms created by water, like rivers and streams

Humid Regions

• Regions with abundant rainfall and high humidity

Wind

• A powerful agent of erosion in arid regions

Tides and Waves

• Important agents of erosion and transportation along coastlines

Glacial Morphology

• Landforms created by glaciers, like U-shaped valleys and cirques

Deposition

• The dropping off, or accumulation of transported material

Fluvial

• Relating to rivers and streams
• Examples: Alluvial fans, floodplains, meanders

Arid Regions

• Regions with low rainfall and high evaporation rates

Eolian

• Relating to wind
• Examples: Dunes, loess, sandblasted rocks

Coastal

• Relating to coastlines
• Examples: Beaches, sandbars, spits

Glacial

• Relating to glaciers
• Examples: Moraines, drumlins, outwash plains

Alpine

• Relating to high mountains
• Examples: Cirque, arete, horn

Continental

• Relating to large ice sheets
• Examples: Drumlin fields, eskers, kettles

Alfred Wegener

• Proposed the Continental Drift Theory

Continental Drift Theory

• Suggests that Earth's continents were once joined together as a supercontinent called Pangaea
• The supercontinent later broke apart and drifted apart over millions of years

Pangaea

• The supercontinent that existed millions of years ago, before breaking apart into the continents we see today

Wegener's Evidences

• The fit of the continents
• Similar fossils found on different continents
• Similar rock formations across continents
• Evidence of ancient climates

Satellites (Laser Geodynam- ics Satellite) LAGEOS

• Satellites used to precisely measure the movement of tectonic plates

Plates

• Large pieces of Earth's lithosphere, which is the rigid outer layer of Earth
• Plates are constantly moving and interacting with each other

Theory of Plate Tectonics

• Explains the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates and the associated geologic events

Plates move slowly in different directions and cause different geologic events

• Plate movement leads to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain formation, and other geological processes

Convection Currents

• Movements of molten rock within Earth's mantle
• Convection currents drive the movement of tectonic plates

Asthenosphere

• The partially molten layer within Earth's mantle
• Convection currents occur within the asthenosphere, driving plate movement

Plate Boundaries

• Where two or more tectonic plates meet and interact
• Different types of plate boundaries exist: divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries

Fault

• A fracture in the Earth's crust where movement has occurred

3 Types of Plate Boundaries

• Divergent Boundaries
• Where two tectonic plates move apart
• Convergent Boundaries
• Where two tectonic plates collide
• Transform Boundaries
• Where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally

Divergent Boundaries

• Plates move apart
• Characterized by tension
• Formation of new crustal material
• Examples: Mid-ocean ridges, Rift Valleys

Tension

• The stretching force that pulls plates apart at divergent boundaries

Normal Fault

• A fault in which the hanging wall (rock above the fault) moves down relative to the footwall (rock below the fault)

Mid-ocean Ridges

• Undersea mountain ranges that form at divergent boundaries
• New oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges

Rift Valleys

• Depressions that form on land when plates move apart
• Often develop into new ocean basins

Fissure Volcanoes

• Volcanic vents that are characterized by long, narrow cracks in the Earth's surface
• Often found at divergent boundaries

Convergent Boundaries

• Plates collide
• Characterized by compression
• Can lead to the formation of mountains, volcanic arcs, and subduction zones
• These are classified into three types:
  • Oceanic-Continental
  • Oceanic-Oceanic
  • Continental-Continental

Compression

• The squeezing force that pushes plates together at convergent boundaries

Subduction Zone

• A zone where one plate slides beneath another
• Found at convergent boundaries
• Often associated with volcanoes and earthquakes

Oceanic-Continental

• One plate is oceanic and the other is continental
• The denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate
• Examples: Andes Mountains, Cascade Range

Oceanic-Oceanic

• Both plates are oceanic
• One plate subducts beneath the other
• Formation of volcanic island arcs and trenches
• Examples: Mariana Islands, Japan

Trench

• A deep, narrow depression on the ocean floor formed where one tectonic plate subducts beneath another

Continental-Continental

• Both plates are continental
• Neither plate is dense enough to subduct
• Collision results in the formation of mountain ranges
• Examples: Himalayas, Alps

Reverse Fault

• A type of fault where the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall

Transform Boundaries

• Plates slide past each other horizontally
• Characterized by shearing
• Examples: San Andreas Fault

Shearing

• The force that causes plates to slide past each other at transform boundaries

San Andreas Fault in California

• A major fault that runs along the coast of California
• Causes frequent earthquakes

Strike-Slip Fault

• A type of fault where the relative motion of the plates is horizontal

Gradation

• The process of wearing down and shaping the Earth's surface
• Can be divided into exogenous and endogenous processes

Geomorphic

• Relating to the physical features of the Earth's surface

Endogenous

• Internal processes that shape the Earth's surface
• Includes processes like tectonic activity, volcanism, magmatism, and plutonism

Igneous Processes

• Processes related to the formation and cooling of magma and lava
• Examples: Volcanism and plutonism

Volcanism

• The process of molten rock (magma or lava) erupting onto the Earth's surface

Plutonism

• The process of magma cooling and solidifying beneath the Earth's surface

Tectonic Processes

• Processes related to the movement of tectonic plates

Folding

• The bending of rock layers due to compression forces

Faulting

• The breaking and movement of rock layers along a fracture

Lateral Faulting

• A type of faulting where the movement is predominantly horizontal

Earthquakes

• Sudden releases of energy within the Earth's crust
• Often occur at plate boundaries

Exogenous Processes

• External processes that shape the Earth's surface
• Driven by energy from the Sun
• Examples: weathering, mass wasting, erosion, transportation, and deposition

Weathering --> Mass Wasting --> Erosion --> Transporta- tion --> Deposition

• A sequence of processes that contribute to the shaping of the Earth's surface

Geomorphic Agents

• Agents that cause weathering, mass wasting, erosion, and transportation
• Examples: rivers, wind, waves, glaciers

Denudation Processes

• Processes that wear down and move Earth materials
• Include weathering, mass wasting, erosion, and transportation

Deposition

• The process of adding sediments or rock fragments to a landform

Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks, soils, and minerals through physical or chemical processes, or a combination of both. Major types include:
  • Physical or Mechanical Weathering
  • Chemical Weathering
  • Biological Weathering

1.) Physical or Mechanical Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition

Exfoliation

• The peeling away of layers of rock, often due to pressure release
• Exposed rock surfaces expand and contract due to temperature changes

Frost Wedging

• The expansion and contraction of water trapped in rock cracks as it freezes and thaws
• The repeated freezing and thawing widens the cracks, eventually breaking the rock

Salt Wedging

• The growth of salt crystals in rock pores, which exert pressure and can break the rock

Chemical Weathering

• The breakdown of rocks through chemical reactions
• Changes the chemical composition of the rock

Oxidation

• The reaction of rock minerals with oxygen, forming oxides, which are often weaker than the original minerals

Hydrolysis

• The reaction of water with rock minerals, leading to the formation of new, less stable minerals
• Contributes to the breakdown of silicate minerals

Carbonation and Solution

• Reactions involving carbon dioxide dissolved in water
• Carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which can dissolve carbonates (like limestone)

Biological Weathering

• The breakdown of rock by living organisms
• Examples:
  • Roots: Plant roots grow into cracks and crevices, widening them over time
  • Lichens: Lichens produce acids that can break down rock

Erosion and Transportation

• The movement of weathered rock and soil fragments by various agents

Fluvial Morphology

• Landforms shaped by rivers and streams
• Examples: river valleys, floodplains, deltas

Humid Regions

• Regions with high rainfall

Wind

• A major agent of erosion in arid and semi-arid regions

Tides and Waves

• Forces that shape coastal landforms

Glacial Morphology

• Landforms shaped by glaciers
• Examples: U-shaped valleys, cirques, moraines

Deposition

• When the geomorphic agents lose energy, and sediments accumulate over time

Fluvial

• Relating to rivers and streams
• Arid Regions: Deposition of sediments by river leads to the formation of alluvial fans and playas

Eolian

• Relating to wind
• Wind can deposit sand to form dunes and loess deposits

Coastal

• Relating to the coast
• Waves and currents deposit sediments to form beaches, spits, and barrier islands

Glacial

• Relating to glaciers
• Alpine: Alpine glaciers deposit rocks and sediments in moraines and outwash plains
• Continental: Ice sheets carve out valleys and deposit large amounts of sediment in outwash plains and till plains

Test your knowledge on the Continental Drift Theory proposed by Alfred Wegener and the Theory of Plate Tectonics. This quiz explores the evidence supporting these theories, including the concept of Pangaea and the movement of Earth's tectonic plates. Dive into the fascinating history of our planet's geological changes.