Flashcards in Definitions: Plates And Landforms (1) Deck (20)
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1
Continental shelf
The edge of a continent that lies under relatively shallow water. The shelf descends towards the ocean floor by the continental slope
2
Plates
Very large sections that the outer layers of the earth are broken into
3
Transform plate boundaries
When two plates slide past each other. Rock is neither created not destroyed, there are passive boundaries
4
Divergent plate boundary
When two plates deprecate from each other. New rock is created, these are constructive boundaries
5
Convergent plate boundaries
When two plates collide. Rock is destroyed, these are destructive boundaries
6
Subduction
The process where the heavier plate slides beneath the lighter plate and slips down into the mantle
7
Fold
A bend or curve in the stratified rocks of the earths crust
8
Fault
A crack or fracture in the earths crust
9
Anticline
An upward fold resulting from the compression of rocks
10
Orogeny
The term used to describe a period of mountain building
11
Seismology
Study of earthquakes
12
Focus
The place where the energy from an earthquake is first released deep below the earth’s surface
13
Epicentre
The point on the earths surface directly above the focus
14
Liquefaction
Clays and sands mix with the ground water during an earthquake. This turns the ground into quicksand like material in minutes
15
Basic lava
Low in silica and very runny, eruptions are gentle
16
Acidic lava
High in silica and pasty. Eruptions are violent
17
Pyroclastic materials
Group name for the airborne debris that erupts from a volcano. It includes ash, dust, cinders, pebbles and rocks
18
Extrusive landforms
When magma makes its way to the surface of the earth and it is known as lava, it cools and solidifies to form various structures. Because these structures on the the surface, they are known as extrusive landforms
19
Intrusive landforms
Some magma involved in an eruption does not reach the surface, instead it forces its way into the rocks of the crust. It then cools deep underground to form intrusive landforms
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