Oceanography Plate Tectonics Study Guide

What percentage of the Earth's crust represents Earth's mass?

1%

In order to find the epicenter of an earthquake you need to examine it's seismograms recorded by _____ different seismic stations.

3

How fast did the indian ocean tsunami of 2004 travel in the open ocean?

500mph

Who described continental drift as an explanation for plate tectonics?

Alfred Vagner

What is the world's tallest volcano?

Mauna Loa

The super-continent that existed 225-250 million years ago is....

Pangea

What is the world's largest volcano?

Tamu Massive

Which type of boundary causes earthquakes?

all 3: diverging, converging, transform

Which ocean is getting larger?

atlantic ocean

Which direction do diverging plates move?

away from eachother ex) ridges, rises

How is a whirl-pool formed?

corollis force

What are associated with transform faults?

fracture zones

What 4 forces drive plate tectonics?

gravity, thermal plumes, and convection currents

What causes tsunamis?

large scale displacements of water

How might one detect and warn against a tsunami?

ocean waters receding

Are continental or oceanic plates more dense?

oceanic plates

Which ocean is getting smaller?

pacific ocean

Which ocean is surrounded by the ring of fire?

pacific ocean

What is the scale used to measure magnitude of an earthquake?

richter scale

What structures can we use to identify plate boundaries?

ridges, rises, trenches, volcanoes, earthquakes, and transform faults

What can "S" waves travel through?

rock

What can "P" waves travel through?

rock and liquid

In shallow water, a tsunami wave__________ __________

slows down and grows taller

What direction do converging plates move? What else are they known as?

towards each other. subducting plates

The San Andreas fault is an example of what type of fault?

transform plate boundary

What are 3 factors that create high seas?

wind speed, wind duration, and wind distance