Geology Quiz: Earth's Dynamics and Structures

Study Notes

Ring of Fire

Approximately 90% of all earthquakes occur along the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Countries located within this zone include South America, Southeast Asia, America's Northwest, New Zealand, Alaska, Russia, and Japan.

Volcanic Activity

Higher silica content increases magma viscosity.
75% of all volcanoes in the U.S. are found in Alaska.
Blocky lava is indicative of thick, viscous magma that traps gases.
Hornblende crystals form magma at great depths in the Earth.

Earth's Layers

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer, composed of the crust and upper mantle.
The asthenosphere lies below the lithosphere and has a plastic-like quality.

Faults and Plate Boundaries

A fault is a fracture zone between two rock blocks.
Reverse faults occur when rock is pushed upward, causing the hanging wall to move up.
A subduction zone allows oceanic crust to sink beneath a trench into the mantle at convergent boundaries.
Strike-slip faults are vertical fractures where rocks move horizontally.

Mapping and Technology

SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) is used to map the ocean floor.
GPS (Global Positioning System) aids in location tracking.
Philvolcs stands for the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Mid-Ocean Ridges

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the longest oceanic range in the Atlantic Ocean.
Mid-ocean ridges form a system of underwater mountains due to divergent plate movements.

Types of Plate Boundaries

Three primary boundaries:
- Convergent (compression)
- Transform (shearing)
- Divergent (caloric expansion and rifting).

Types of Convergent Boundaries

Oceanic to continental
Oceanic to oceanic
Continental to continental

Seismic Waves

Seismic waves are generated by sudden movements within the Earth, such as slipping along a fault.
Earthquakes are vibrations caused by these seismic waves, classified into two main types: body waves and surface waves.

Surface Waves

Love waves are faster, move horizontally side-to-side, and cause significant structural damage.
Rayleigh waves roll along the ground, causing up-and-down and side-to-side movements, responsible for most felt shaking.

Body Waves

Primary waves (P-waves) can travel through liquids, solids, and gases and are identified as compressional waves.
Secondary waves (S-waves) are slower, can only travel through solids, and create a side-to-side swaying motion.

Earth's Internal Layers

The depths of the Earth include:
- Inner Core
- Outer Core
- Mantle
- Crust

Earth's Crust Composition

The crust, the thinnest layer, is categorized into continental and oceanic regions.
Continental crust has a thickness of 35-40 km and consists of less dense rocks like granite.
Oceanic crust, being denser, is thinner at around 7-10 km and composed of rocks like basalt.
The most abundant element in the crust is oxygen, while hydrogen is the least prevalent.

Description

Test your knowledge on the dynamic components of Earth's structure, including the Pacific Ring of Fire, volcanic activity, and different types of geological faults. This quiz covers essential concepts related to Earth's layers, magma properties, and plate boundaries.