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
