tectonic plate
Drifting lithospheric segment
A tectonic plate is one of the massive slabs of rock that make up Earth's outer shell.
These plates float on the semi-molten layer beneath and slowly drift, collide, and separate over geological time.
Their interactions produce earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain ranges.
The San Andreas Fault marks where two tectonic plates grind past each other.
Gradual landmass repositioning
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- convergentTending toward union
- divergentDeviating from the norm
- transformChange completely in form
velocity · rotation · collision · separation · sliding · migration · motion tracking · paleomagnetism
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
- isostasyGravitational balance of landmasses
mid-ocean ridge · trench · fault lines · mountain building · accretion
Crust plus upper mantle
- continentalOf a continent
- oceanicOf the sea
- crustHard outer layer
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
granite · bedrock · rigid · thickness · boundary · margin · slab · craton
Seismic ground movement
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
- faultImperfection or blame
rupture · magnitude · seismic waves · P-wave · S-wave · seismograph · subduction zone · Richter
Ductile upper mantle layer
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- hotspotArea of notable activity
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
- partial meltingIncomplete transition to liquid
viscosity · buoyancy · density · geothermal
continental drift
Gradual landmass repositioning
- subductionPlate descending beneath another
- convergentTending toward union
- divergentDeviating from the norm
transform · velocity · rotation · collision · separation · sliding · migration · motion tracking · paleomagnetism · reconstruction
Pangaea
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- orogenyGeological mountain formation
isostasy · mid-ocean ridge · trench · fault lines · mountain building · accretion
lithosphere
Crust plus upper mantle
- continentalOf a continent
- oceanicOf the sea
- crustHard outer layer
basalt · granite · bedrock · rigid · thickness · boundary · margin · slab · craton · platform
earthquake
Seismic ground movement
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- epicenterPoint above seismic origin
fault · rupture · magnitude · seismic waves · P-wave · S-wave · seismograph · subduction zone · Richter · aftershock
asthenosphere
Ductile upper mantle layer
- convectionHeat transfer via motion
- hotspotArea of notable activity
- olivineGreen igneous rock mineral
partial melting · viscosity · buoyancy · density · geothermal
volcanic arc
Curved line of volcanoes
Hawaii · Iceland · Andes · volcanic chain
- earth science referencesgeology, volcano, earthquake, fossil, mineral
- earthquakesearthquake, quake, earthquakes, quakes, epicenter
- geologybedrock, fault lines, faults, rock, basalt
- geology termsfossils, rock layers, schist, core sample, gneiss
- tectonicssubduction, continental drift, subduction zones, subduction zone, rifting
- solar systemsun, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
tectonic plateasthenosphere
Ductile upper mantle layer
mantle · magma · molten core · outer core · inner core
tectonic plateplate boundary
Where Earth's sections meet
subduction zone · fault line · mid-ocean ridge · seismic zone · fault zone
plate, plates, tectonic, tectonics, architectonic, tectonic plates, tectonically