A | B |
Alfred Wegener | First proposed the hypothesis of continental drift, based on fossil evidence, geographic similarities and the puzzle like shapes of continents. |
Asthenosphere | The soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats. |
Basalt | A dark, dense, igneous rock with a fine texture that is found in Oceanic Crust. |
Conduction | The transfer of heat by direct contact of particles of matter. |
Continent | A great landmass surrounded by oceans. |
Continental drift | The hypothesis that the continents slowly move across the Earth's surface. |
Convection | The trans of heat by the movements of a heated fluid. |
Convection current | Them movement of fluid, caused by differences in temperature, that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another. |
Convergent Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move toward each other. |
Core | The center of the Earth made up from the Outer Core and the Inner Core. |
Crust | The layer of rock that forms the Earth's outer covering. |
Deep-ocean Trench | A deep valley along the ocean floor, through which oceanic crust slowly sinks towards the mantle. |
Divergent Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move away each other. |
Fault | A break in the Earth's crust where slabs of rock slip past each other. |
Fossil | A trace of an ancient organism that has been preserved in a rock. (Remains that are dug up) |
Geologist | One who studies rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
Geology | The study of rocks, the Earth, and the forces that shape the Earth. |
Granite | A usually light colored rock that is found in continental crust. |
Harry Hess | First proposed the hypothesis that oceanic crust moved, (discovered sea-floor spreading) which would explain how continents could move. This helped to support Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift. |
Inner Core | A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel in the center of the Earth. |
J.Tuzo Wilson | Scientist who recognized the significance of crack in the Earth's crust as "plate" boundaries, and put together the Theory of PLATE TECTONICS from his observations, Wegener's observations / hypothesis, and Hess's data on sea floor spreading. |
Lithosphere | A rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and the crust. |
Mantle | The layer of hot, solid* material between the Earth's crust and the core. |
Mid-ocean ridge | The undersea mountain chain where new ocean floor is produced; a divergent boundary. |
Outer Core | A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth. |
Pangaea | The name of the single landmass that broke apart 200 million years ago. |
Plate | A section of the lithosphere that slowly moves over the asthenosphere carrying pieces of oceanic and/or continental crust. |
Plate Tectonics | The theory that pieces of the Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle. |
Radiation | The transfer of energy through empty space or air. |
Rift valley | A deep valley that forms where two plates move apart. |
Sea-floor spreading | The process by which molten material adds new oceanic crust to the ocean floor. |
Sonar | A device that determines the distance of an object (underwater) by recording echoes of sound waves. |
Subduction | The process by which oceanic crust sinks into a deep-ocean trench (under continental crust) and back into the mantle at a convergent plate boundary. |
Transform Boundary | A plate boundary where two plates move past each other in opposite directions. |
- ate / -ic / -tic | a condition of being _______, to be ________ |
geo | Earth, rock |
ology | the study of |
con / com | together, with |
tion | the act of |
Sphere | a ball |
pan | all |
sub | under, below |
duc | to lead |
verge | to bend or turn |
asthenes | weak |
gaea | land |
radia | a ray |
bio | life |
vect | carried |
di / bi | separate / two |
lithos | stone, |
seism | shaking |
trans | across |