plate tectonics
Crustal movement science
Plate tectonics is the geological theory that Earth's outer shell consists of rigid plates floating on semi-molten rock beneath.
These plates drift slowly, colliding to form mountains, pulling apart to create ocean basins, and sliding past each other along fault lines.
The theory explains earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the distribution of continents: Plate tectonics shows why South America and Africa fit together like puzzle pieces.
Crust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- mantleCovering or wrap
crust · mid-ocean ridge · geodynamics · isostasy · orogeny · convection currents · oceanic crust · continental crust
Fractures between rock masses
- seismic wavesEnergy from earth movements
- subduction zonesWhere tectonic plates descend
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
magnitude · P-waves · S-waves · foreshocks · aftershocks · tremors · seismograph · seismometer
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- paleogeographyStudy of ancient Earth surfaces
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
- driftGradual movement, no direction
Violent sudden release
- lavaErupted liquid stone
- magmaMolten rock underground
- calderaCollapsed volcanic summit basin
- pyroclastic flowHot volcanic gas-debris mixture
hotspot · volcanic arc · shield volcano · stratovolcano · Ring of Fire · basalt · andesite · volcanic island
lithosphere
Crust plus upper mantle
- asthenosphereDuctile upper mantle layer
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
mantle · crust · mid-ocean ridge · geodynamics · isostasy · orogeny · convection currents · oceanic crust · continental crust
fault lines
Fractures between rock masses
- seismic wavesEnergy from earth movements
- subduction zonesWhere tectonic plates descend
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
epicenter · magnitude · P-waves · S-waves · foreshocks · aftershocks · tremors · seismograph · seismometer · Richter scale
Pangaea
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- paleogeographyStudy of ancient Earth surfaces
- breakupRomantic relationship's termination
drift · landmass · supercontinent · Columbia
eruption
Violent sudden release
pyroclastic flow · hotspot · volcanic arc · shield volcano · stratovolcano · Ring of Fire · basalt · andesite · volcanic island · seamount
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- geography topicsGIS, GPS, mapping, cartography, digital maps
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
- Physical Sciencesphysics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, meteorology
- scientific phrasesbig bang, black hole, natural selection, climate change, genetic code
plate tectonicserosion
Gradual wearing away
weathering · denudation · degradation · sedimentation · gradation
plate, plates, plateau, plateful, tectonic, tectonics, platelet, plateaus, platefuls