Plate Techtocics Crossword

________________ proposed the theory of continental drift – the idea that Earth’s continents move. Despite publishing a large body of compelling fossil and rock evidence for his theory between 1912 and 1929, it was rejected by most other scientists. It was only in the 1960s that continental drift finally became part of mainstream science.
The theory that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other, thus appearing to have "drifted" across the ocean bed. The speculation that continents might have 'drifted' was first put forward by Abraham Ortelius in 1596.
a crack in the Earth's crust. Typically associated with, or form, the boundaries between Earth's tectonic plates. In an active_________, the pieces of the Earth's crust along a__________ move over time. The moving rocks can cause earthquakes.
A term used by paleontologists to refer to the total number of fossils that have been discovered, as well as to the information derived from them.
the secondmost recent supercontinent, it existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. It assembled from earlier continental units approximately 335 million years ago, and it began to break apart about 175 million years ago
he theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared to Earth's mantle
a linear zone where the lithosphere is being pulled apart and is an example of extensional tectonics. many occur along the central axis of most mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust and lithosphere is created along a divergent boundary between two tectonic plates
hemispheric-scale long but narrow topographic depressions of the sea floor. They also are the deepest parts of the ocean floor and define one of the most important natural boundaries on the Earth's solid surface, that between two lithospheric plates
the upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
the relatively thick part of the earth's crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust
A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other. If the two plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a mountain chain. If they are of unequal density, one plate usually sinks beneath the other in a subduction zone.
appear at a plate boundaries and are an excellent way to identify the direction of motion of two plates at a boundary. Mid-ocean ridges, deep-ocean trenches, and mountain ranges are great indicators of tectonic plate motion
(also known as a constructive boundary or an extensional boundary) is a linear feature that exists between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other.
a sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action
the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid. In science it serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis. Such ________ is expected to be empirical and interpreted in accordance with The Scientific Method.
mountains that form mainly by the effects of folding on layers within the upper part of the Earth's crust. Before either plate tectonic theory developed, or the internal architecture of thrust belts became well understood, the term was used for most mountain belts, such as the Himalayas
the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.
hot fluid or semifluid material below or within the earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed on cooling.
a long, seismically active submarine ridge system situated in the middle of an ocean basin and marking the site of the upwelling of magma associated with seafloor spreading. An example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
the relatively thin part of the earth's crust which underlies the ocean basins. It is geologically young compared with the continental crust and consists of basaltic rock overlain by sediments.
there are three types: Convergent, Divergent and transform
a geological process that takes place at convergent boundaries of tectonic plates where one plate moves under another and is forced to sink due to gravity into the mantle.
the goelogical region in which subduction is taking place
a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere. Their sizes can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; the Pacific and Antarctic _________ are among the largest
a plate boundary where the motion is predominantly horizontal. It ends abruptly and is connected to another transform, a spreading ridge, or a subduction zone
formed by volcanic activity, rises from the sea floor but reaches above the ocean's surface, sometimes just barely, typically a solitary mountain. The lava cools rapidly as it reaches the ocean water and forms solid rock. Each eruption of the sea floor volcano builds up the volcano a little bit higher.