The Restless Earth Vocab

Question 1

Caldera

Answer 1

The depression if a super volcano, marking the collapsed magma chamber

Question 2

Composite volcano

Answer 2

Steep-sided cone with successive layers of ash and lava

Question 3

(Destructive) Collision boundary

Answer 3

Where two plates are moving together and upward, creating mountains

Question 4

Conservative boundary

Answer 4

Where two plates pass alongside each other

Question 5

Constructive boundary

Answer 5

Where two plates move apart

Question 6

Continental drift

Answer 6

The theory that describes how plates have moved over millions of years

Question 7

Convection current

Answer 7

Movement of magma within the Earth’s mantle, formed by radioactive decay creating heat

Question 8

Crust

Answer 8

The outermost layer of the Earth

Question 9

Earthquake

Answer 9

A sudden and violent shaking of the Earth’s crust

Question 10

Epicentre

Answer 10

The point at the Earth’s surface directly above the focus of an earthquake

Question 11

Fissure

Answer 11

Extended opening along a line of weakness, allowing magma to escape to the surface

Question 12

Focus

Answer 12

The point where an earthquake originates

Question 13

Fold mountains

Answer 13

Mountains formed by plate collision, crumpling rock layers

Question 14

Geyser

Answer 14

A geothermal feature in which water erupts into the air under pressure

Question 15

Geothermal

Answer 15

Water that is heated beneath the ground, which comes to the surface in a variety of ways

Question 16

Hazard

Answer 16

An event where lives and property are threatened, resulting in damage and/or death

Question 17

Hot spot

Answer 17

Where magma plumes rise away from plate boundaries, breaking through the crust

Question 18

Immediate responses

Answer 18

How people react as the disaster happens and in the immediate aftermath

Question 19

Lahar

Answer 19

Secondary effect of a volcano where mudflows form from the mixing of ash and melted ice/water

Question 20

Lava

Answer 20

Name for magma once at the Earth’s surface

Question 21

Long term responses

Answer 21

Later reactions that occur in the weeks, months and years after the event

Question 22

Magma

Answer 22

Molten rock within the Earth’s mantle

Question 23

Mantle

Answer 23

The dense, mostly solid layer between the outer core and the crust

Question 24

Mercalli scale

Answer 24

Measures the destructive power of an earthquake (1-12)

Question 25

Ocean trenches

Answer 25

Deep sections of ocean where an oceanic plate subducts below a continental plate

Question 26

Outer core

Answer 26

An inner section of the Earth - liquid, compromising of mostly iron, at 10-12 g/cm3

Question 27

(Tectonic) plate

Answer 27

A huge section of the Earth’s crust

Question 28

Plate boundary/margin

Answer 28

Where any two plates meet

Question 29

Plate tectonics

Answer 29

The theory of the distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, fold mountains and plate movement

Question 30

Prediction

Answer 30

Attempts to forecast an event - where and when it will happen - based on current knowledge

Question 31

Protection

Answer 31

Constructing buildings so that they are safe to live in and will not collapse

Question 32

Preparation

Answer 32

Organising activities and drills so that people know what to do in an earthquake

Question 33

Richter scale

Answer 33

Measures the strength/magnitude of an earthquake, no upper limit

Question 34

Shield volcano

Answer 34

Gentle sides, wide base made of basic lava

Question 35

Subduction

Answer 35

The sinking movement of one plate beneath another at a destructive margin

Question 36

Supervolcano

Answer 36

A colossal volcano that erupts at least 1000km3 of material

Question 37

Tectonic activity

Answer 37

Changes taking place in the structure of the earth

Question 38

Tsunami

Answer 38

A wave, often generated by an earthquake, which displaces water and causes devastation

Question 39

Vent

Answer 39

The opening of a volcano

Question 40

Volcano

Answer 40

Cone-shaped mountain created by lava from repeated eruptions

Question 41

Basic lava

Answer 41

Thin ‘runny’ lava, low silica content, flows long distances