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Lithosphere MVHS
Lithosphere, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes
29
Geology
11th Grade
02/02/2012

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Cards

Term
Tectonic Plates
Definition
Fractured pieces of the earth's crust that float on convection currents in the earth's mantle.
Term
Convection Currents
Definition
Caused by rising warm magma and falling cool magma in the asthenosphere; circular currents that drive plate tectonics.
Term
Plate Tectonics
Definition
Alfred Wegener's theory of how pieces of the crust move on convection currents in the earth's interior.
Term
Fault
Definition
A fracture, or crack, in the earth's surface, caused my different movements of the earth's crust.
Term
Subduction
Definition
When a dense oceanic plate pushes its way under a less-dense continental plate; causes volcanoes and earthquakes at its boundary.
Term
Rift Valley
Definition
Low, flat area caused by spreading plates thinning the earth's crust.
Term
Mid-Ocean Ridge
Definition
Giant, global undersea mountain range caused by new rock forming at spreading oceanic plates.
Term
Convergent Boundary
Definition
When two tectonic plates collide; this is the most dangerous type of plate boundary.
Term
Divergent Boundary
Definition
Where two plates are spreading apart and magma pushes up to form mountain ranges.
Term
Transform Boundary
Definition
Where two tectonic plates are moving sideways across each other; San Andreas Fault is a famous example.
Term
Earthquake
Definition
When a fault moves, causing waves to move through the earth's crust.
Term
Aftershock
Definition
smaller earthquake that follows a major one
Term
asthenosphere
Definition
the semi-liquid upper mantle on which tectonic plates move
Term
avalanche
Definition
when snow or rocks are shaken loose and tumble down mountain slopes, causing damage
Term
crust
Definition
another term for lithosphere; the hard, outer layer of the geosphere
Term
epicenter
Definition
point on the earth's surface directly over where an earthquake starts
Term
focus
Definition
point along a fault underground where an earthquake begins
Term
lithosphere
Definition
synonym for crust; the hard, outermost layer of the geosphere
Term
inner core
Definition
layer of the earth that's solid and made of iron and nickel
Term
L wave
Definition
rolling surface seismic waves that cause damage during an earthquake
Term
Mantle
Definition
thickest layer of the earth
Term
Mudslide
Definition
when wet soil liquifies and rolls down mountain slopes
Term
Outer Core
Definition
molten layer of the earth, made of iron and nickel
Term
P wave
Definition
fast-moving waves that are the first to reach a seismograph
Term
Richter scale
Definition
System used to measure the intensity of an earthquake
Term
S Wave
Definition
second seismic wave that comes after an earthquake begins; has a wave-like shearing motion
Term
Soil Liquefaction
Definition
Loose soil acts like a fluid when vibrated by an earthquake and can flow
Term
Triangulation
Definition
Using distance data from three seismograph stations to locate the epicenter of an earthquake
Term
Tsunami
Definition
a huge wave caused by a marine earthquake
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