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| scientific theory that describes the large scale motions of Earth's lithosphere |
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| an actively deforming region where two (or more) tectonic plates or fragments of lithosphere move toward one another and collide |
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| linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other. |
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| special variety of strike-slip fault that accommodates relative horizontal slip between other tectonic elements, such as oceanic crustal plates |
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| He suggested that a supercontinent he called Pangaea had existed in the past, broke up starting 200 million years ago, and that the pieces ``drifted'' to their present positions. |
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| process in which the ocean floor is extended when two plates move apart. |
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| Thought the idea that the seafloor itself moves (and carries the continents with it) as it expands from a central axis |
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| Oceanic-Continental Convergence |
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| When an oceanic plate pushes into and sub-ducts under a continental plate, the overriding continental plate is lifted up and a mountain range is created. |
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| Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence |
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| When two oceanic plates converge one is usually subducted under the other and in the process a deep oceanic trench is formed. |
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| Continental-Continental Convergence |
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| When two continents meet head-on, neither is subducted because the continental rocks are relatively light and, resist downward motion |
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| a theory that the continents were once joined together to make a super continent, but the plates moved and spread the continent apart |
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| an underwater mountain range, formed by plate tectonics. |
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| process that takes place at convergent boundaries by which one tectonic plate moves under another tectonic plate, sinking into the Earth's mantle, as the plates converge. |
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| conducted pioneering research along with Harry Hammond Hess concerning seafloor spreading |
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| contributions to the theory of continental drift |
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| part of Earth's lithosphere that surfaces in the ocean basins |
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| earth's crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart |
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| area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean |
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| hemispheric-scale long but narrow topographic depressions of the sea floor. They are also the deepest parts of the ocean floor. |
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| outermost shell of a rocky planet |
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