GEOL 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Transform Fault, Accretionary Wedge, Passive Margin
Document Summary
Seamounts- mountains on the sea oor that don"t reach sea level. Island and seamount chains- islands and seamounts in long belts. Mid ocean ridges- broad, symmetrical ridges that cross ocean basins: occur in divergent plate boundaries. Oceanic fracture zones- cracks and steps cross the sea oor mostly at right angles to mid ocean ridges: occur in transform plate boundaries. Island arcs- curving chain of islands: occur in convergent plate boundaries. Continental drift- hypothesis that the continents were once joined together but later drifted apart. Tectonic activity- earthquakes, volcanoes, and other processes that deform crust and mantle. Tectonic plates- rigid pieces of the lithosphere. Plates are moving relative to one another: can move away, toward, or sideways relative to one another. Two plates move apart relative to one another: convergent. Two plates move horizontally past each other. The elevation of the sea oor decreases away from the ridge because the rock cools and contracts.
