Tectonic Key Definitions and Concepts

Question 1

A potential threat to human life and property

Answer 1

A hazard

Question 2

The two causes of natural hazards

Answer 2

Hydro-meteorological (climatic processes) ans Geophysical (land processes)

Question 3

Earthquakes not occurring at plate boundaries due to pre-existing weaknesses

Answer 3

Intra-plate earthquakes

Question 4

Where do geophysical earthquakes occur?

Answer 4

Near plate boundaries

Question 5

Localised areas of the lithosphere which has unusually high temperatures due to upwelling

Answer 5

Volcanic Hotspots

Question 6

Name two examples of volcanic hotspots

Answer 6

Hawaii hotspot and The Ring of Fire

Question 7

Where is the ring of fire located

Answer 7

Nazca , India-Australia and Pacific Plate

Question 8

Inner core , outer core , mantle and crust

Answer 8

The layers of the earth

Question 9

What are the two types of plates

Answer 9

Oceanic and Continental

Question 10

A thick plate with land masses upon it

Answer 10

Continental plate

Question 11

A thinner but denser plate with no land masses upon it

Answer 11

Oceanic plate

Question 12

How do convection currents occur?

Answer 12

Radioactive reactions within the core

Question 13

How do they plates move?

Answer 13

Convection Currents

Question 14

The pulling force exerted by a cold, dense oceanic plate plunging into the mantle due to its own weight. The theory is that because the oceanic plate is denser than the hotter mantle beneath it, this contrast in density causes the plate to sink into the mantle.

Answer 14

Slab Pull theory

Question 15

Name an example location of where slab pull theory is present

Answer 15

The Pacific Plate

Question 16

Which theory states that the continents used to be connected in one large landmass known as a supercontinent but overtime the continents individually separated. Verified by the discovery of relating fossils on other sides of the ocean

Answer 16

Continental drift theory

Question 17

Who theorised continental drift theory?

Answer 17

Wegner

Question 18

What do the depth of seismic waves show?

Answer 18

It shows subduction of the denser basaltic oceanic plates in the upper mantle

Question 19

When two oceanic plates move away from each other allowing magma from the mantle to move up and form new crust ridges within the ocean resulting in sea floor widening

Answer 19

Sea Floor Spreading

Question 20

The record of geomagnetic data preserved in rocks and minerals

Answer 20

Paleomagntism

Question 21

What are the three types of plate movements

Answer 21

Convergent , Divergent and Conservative

Question 22

Volcanos , Earthquakes and Rift Valleys all from due to this plate movement

Answer 22

Constructive

Question 23

Only Earthquakes occur here

Answer 23

Conservative

Question 24

Volcanos , Earthquakes , Fold mountains , island arcs and ocean trenches all result from this plate movement

Answer 24

Destructive

Question 25

Plates move away from each other

Answer 25

Constructive

Question 26

Plates slide past each other

Answer 26

Conservative

Question 27

Plates push against eachother

Answer 27

Destructive

Question 28

What are the combinations of plates at a destructive plate margin?

Answer 28

continental + continental oceanic + oceanic continental + oceanic

Question 29

What are the combinations of plates found at constructive plate margins?

Answer 29

oceanic + oceanic continental + continental

Question 30

Where does conservative margins occur?

Answer 30

Between any plates

Question 31

the accumulation of material at the point of subduction

Answer 31

Accretion Wedge

Question 32

Buildings designed to withstand seismic activity

Answer 32

Aseismic Buildings

Question 33

The upper mantle layer of the earth , semi-molten and approx 2000km wide

Answer 33

Asthenosphere

Question 34

This model shows that a hazard becomes a disaster if it affects a vulnerable population

Answer 34

Deggs Model

Question 35

The point on the surface directly above the earthquakes orgin

Answer 35

Epicentre

Question 36

The place at which the pressure/seismic energy is released

Answer 36

Focus

Question 37

The sequence of governance of a natural hazard: monitoring , prediction , mitigation and preparedness

Answer 37

Hazard mitigation cycle

Question 38

a sudden glacial flood caused by a glacier on top of or near a volcano melting due to the heat of the volcano

Answer 38

Jokulhaup

Question 39

a flow of mud a debris

Answer 39

lahar

Question 40

the upper crust of the mantle avg. thickness of 100km

Answer 40

lithosphere

Question 41

a surface earthquake wave with horizontal displacement

Answer 41

Love waves or L waves

Question 42

A measure of an earthquakes energy released considered the most accurate measurement

Answer 42

moment magnitude scale

Question 43

a model describing the decline and recovery of a country over a period of time following a natural disaster

Answer 43

Parks Model

Question 44

elements within the lithosphere have different melting points and so rock is partially melted and partially solid

Answer 44

Partial Melting

Question 45

an earthquake waves causing compression within the body of the rock

Answer 45

P waves

Question 46

a mixture of gases and rock fragments at high tempratures travelling at rapid speeds

Answer 46

pyroclastic flow

Question 47

a surface earthquake causing both horizental and vertical displacement

Answer 47

R waves

Question 48

a logarithmic measure of an earthquake's intensity

Answer 48

Richter scale

Question 49

an earthquake causing vertical displacement within the body of rock

Answer 49

S waves

Question 50

the energy released in the form of P , L , S and R waves

Answer 50

seismic waves

Question 51

initial vertical water displacement often from submarine earthquakes creates large waves with destructive power

Answer 51

Tsunami

Question 52

a measure of a volcanos explosivity and eruption magnitude

Answer 52

volcanic explosivity index (VEI)

Question 53

a region of the subducting plate most affected by pressure and friction where most destructive margin earthquakes occur

Answer 53

Wadati-Benioff zone