Plate Tectonics Exam Study Guide

Study Notes

Plate Tectonics exam: Name and test date
Continental Drift: Theory explaining the movement of continents
Ridge: Underwater mountain ranges formed by volcanic activity when plates move apart
Pangaea: Ancient supercontinent that existed about 335 million years ago
Lithosphere: Outer layer of the Earth, solid and brittle, divided into tectonic plates
Lithosphere density: Lighter than the asthenosphere, allowing plates to move
Seismic waves: Waves generated by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, traveling through the Earth
Ring of Fire: Pacific Ocean rim area with frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis
Earth's crust: Made up of many pieces called tectonic plates
Plates move towards each other, one sinks under the other: Forms a subduction zone, creating volcanic activity
Person studying the solid and liquid matter of the Earth: Geologist
Lithospheric plates moving, causing: Volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and earthquakes
Labeled diagram: Tsunami: Series of large ocean waves; More likely in countries near the Pacific Ocean: Pacific Ring of Fire; Caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions
After an earthquake, possible geological events: Landslides, liquefaction, volcanic eruptions
Alfred Wegener: German meteorologist who proposed the theory of Pangaea in 1912
Evidence supporting Pangaea theory: Fossil distribution, coastline shapes, and geological structures
P waves: Primary seismic waves, move faster, compressional waves
S waves: Secondary seismic waves, slower, shear waves
Seismic waves: Recorded using seismographs to measure earth's internal activity.
Tsunami: Short for "harbor wave," a series of large ocean waves often caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
Countries more likely to have a tsunami: Pacific rim countries, such as Japan, Indonesia, and Chile.
More likely due to: Proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are frequent.
After an earthquake, possible geological events: Landslides, liquefaction, and volcanic eruptions.
Alfred Wegener: German meteorologist who proposed the theory of Pangaea in 1912.
Evidence supporting Pangaea theory: Fossil distribution, coastline shapes, and geological structures.
P waves: Primary seismic waves, move faster, compressional waves.
S waves: Secondary seismic waves, slower, shear waves.
Seismic waves: Recorded using seismographs to measure earth's internal activity.
Tsunami: Large ocean waves, often caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
Countries more likely to have a tsunami: Pacific rim countries, such as Japan, Indonesia, and Chile.
More likely due to: Proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the Ring of Fire.
After an earthquake, possible geological events: Landslides, liquefaction, volcanic eruptions.