1.1 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Lithosphere

A

The lithosphere is the crust and the top layer of the mantle (solid)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is plate tectonic theory

A

Theory created by Alfred Wegener in 1912 he suggested that tectonic plates move

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why do plates move

A

1) mantle convection currents
2) slab pull
3) subduction zone movement
4) sea floor spreading

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

List the characteristics of the crust

A
  • Up to 400 degrees
  • Its solid
  • It’s the layer we live on
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

List the characteristics of mantle

A
  • Up to 870 degrees
  • Less dense
  • Upper part is solid. Lower part is semi-molten
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

List the characteristics of the outer core

A
  • 4400 to 6100 degrees
  • Dense
  • Liquid iron and nickel
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

List characteristics of the inner core

A
  • 7000 degrees
  • Very dense
  • Solid (radiates heat)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the processes at Divergent Processes

A

Sea floor spreading - rising magma

Large number of shallow focus earthquake

Plates moving apart from one another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the land forms found at divergent plate boundaries

A

Shield volcanoes

Rift valleys

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Characteristics of Convergent plate boundaries

A

Plates move towards each other

One slides below the other (oceanic) - high magnitude earthquakes

This is called a subduction zone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is a volcanic hotspot

A

Volcano that exists in the middle of a plate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a mantle plume

A

Long-lived areas of high levels of heat flow within the mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Give three examples of volcanic hotspot islands

A
  • Hawaiian islands
  • Galapagos islands
  • Canary islands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How old is the Hawaii Emperor Sea Mount Chain

A

5.6 million years ago, to now

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the major type of volcano found in Hawaii

A

Shield volcano - non eruptive

  • gentle slope
  • low viscosity - lava flows easily & quickly
  • frequent eruptions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Explain the reasons for the shape of Hawaii’s volcanoes

A

Because the volcanoes are not explosive eruptions, the lava easily and gently flows out and hardens creating gentle slopes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Why does the hot spot stay in the same place

A

Magma finds weaknesses in the lithosphere and hardens on sea floor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Suggest why there is a sharpe bend in the Hawaiian Island chain

A

Plate movement changes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Intra-plate activity

A

Occurring within the middle of a plate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What does Viscosity mean

A

How sticky

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What were the three different suggestions of Alfred Wegener - Pangea

A

He suggested:
•Biological
•Geological
•climatological

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Biology evidence of Pangea

A
  • Mesosaurus - small reptile. Fossils and remains found in South America & Africa
  • A plant which existed when coal was being formed has been located in India and Antarctica
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Geology evidence of Pangea

A

•Rocks f similar age, type, structure and formation found in South Africa and Brazil

24
Q

Climatology evidence for Pangea

A
  • Coal found under Antarctic ice cap

* Evidence of glaciation in Brazil and India

25
What is an Earthquake
Sudden shaking of the ground
26
Where do Earthquakes happen
Along plate boundaries
27
Why do Earthquakes happen
Release of friction/tension of the plates | Caused by sudden movements near the Earth’s surface along a fault
28
What is a fault
A fracture in the rocks that make up the Earth’s crust
29
What is the Epicenter
The point at the surface of the Earth directly above the focus
30
What is the Focus
The point within the Earth where an earthquake rupture starts
31
What are seismic waves
Waves that transmit the energy released by an earthquake
32
List the characteristics of P-Waves
‘P’ =pressure * Travel fast * First waves to arrive * No one knows they’ve passed * Send vibrations, push & pull weakening the rock
33
List the characteristics of S-Waves
‘S’ =Secondary * Travel slow * Pulling rock side to side * People can feel this * Cause damage
34
Like the characteristics of a Surface Wave (L-Wave)
* Large * Move left and right , up and down * Buildings fall
35
What factors can increase the severity of an earthquake
* Hospitals being built furthest away on cheap land * Old buildings, weak - quality comes down to wealth (e.g) Nepal * Buildings closest to river - geology type, softer rock, shakes for longer
36
What are the characteristics of a Shield Volcano
* Non eruptive * Gentle slopes * Low viscosity - lava flows easily and quickly * Frequent eruptions
37
What are Primary effects of an Earthquake
* Ground shaking (which causes infrastructural damage) | * Crustal fracturing
38
What are Secondary effects of an Earthquake
* Liquefaction * Landslides/Avalanches * Tsunami * Aftershocks
39
What is Liquefaction
When land shakes so much the solid particles start to act like a liquid
40
What are the 7 main factors which increase the severity of volcanic hazards
1) Viscosity of the magma - high viscosity = high explosivity 2) Plate margins - convergent margins are the most dangerous 3) Explosiveness 4) The material ejected 5) Distance to populated area 6) Frequency 7) Prediction
41
How is a volcanic eruption measured? | How is it measured?
•Volcano Explosivity Index It is calculated using the ash cloud height and the volume of products ejected into the air
42
Characteristics of Composite volcano
* Steep sides * Formed from very thick, viscous lava that doesn’t flow easily * Lava builds up around the vent * Explosive eruptions relating to viscosity of magma (gases can’t escape)
43
Characteristics of Shield volcano
* Gentle slopes, shield shape * Low viscosity- lava flows easily and quickly * Gentle, non-explosive eruptions * Frequent eruptions (Hawaii)
44
Primary effects of a Volcano
* Pyroclastic Flow * Lava Flows * Tephra and Ash Cloud * Gas eruptions
45
Secondary effects of a volcano
* Lahars | * Jokulhaups
46
What is a Pyroclastic Flows (Primary)
A dense, destructive mass of very hot ash, lava fragments and gassed ejected explosively from a volcano and typically flowing at a fast speed
47
What is a Lava Flow (Primary)
A mass of flowing or solidified lava
48
What is Tephra and Ash Fall (Primary)
All explosive volcanic eruptions generate tephra and produce ash Fragments of rock is explosively ejected
49
What are Gas eruptions (Primary)
Gases that are released during volcanic eruptions
50
What are Lahars (Secondary)
Volcanic mudflow on the slopes of a volcano
51
What are Jokulhlaups (Secondary)
Glacier - typical of glacial outburst flood
52
Why do mudflows occur
When volcanic material mixes with rain and flows
53
Why do eruptions occur
When pressure forces magma from chamber to main vent crater blown off
54
What is formed when lava cools
New rock / land
55
Characteristics of a Tsunami
* Often low in height out at sea (below 300mm) * Grow in height as they hit shallow water * A series of waves * First wave not necessarily the largest or most destructive * Long wavelength can mean up to an hour between waves