How the Earth was Made: Iceland

Front

What geological phenomenon is driving vulcanism in Iceland?

Back

Hotspot: A location where magma from the mantle reaches the Earth's surface, causing volcanic activity.

Front

What type of boundary is formed when two tectonic plates collide?

Back

Convergent Boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates move toward each other, often causing one plate to be forced below the other.

Front

What happens to temperature, pressure, and density as you move from the inner core to the crust?

Back

They would all decrease: As you move outward from the inner core to the crust, temperature, pressure, and density decrease.

Front

What causes plate movement in the Earth's crust?

Back

Convection Currents in the Mantle: The movement of molten rock in the mantle creates currents that drive the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What do the crust and the uppermost mantle together form?

Back

Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

Front

What is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed?

Back

Seafloor Spreading: The process where new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates pull apart.

Front

What is the term for the layer of the Earth that is liquid and surrounds the inner core?

Back

Outer Core: The liquid layer of the Earth's core, composed mainly of iron and nickel.

Front

What is the name of the layer of the Earth that is semi-fluid and allows tectonic plates to move?

Back

Asthenosphere: The semi-fluid layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere that allows for the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the term for the boundary where two tectonic plates slide past each other?

Back

Transform Boundary: A tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide horizontally past one another.

Front

What geological feature is formed at a divergent boundary?

Back

Mid-Ocean Ridge: An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics at a divergent boundary.