Volcanic and Seismic Concepts

Front

What is a normal fault?

Back

A type of fault where the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall, typically caused by extensional forces.

Front

What does seismology study?

Back

Seismology is the branch of science that studies earthquakes and the propagation of elastic waves through the Earth.

Front

What is a pyroclastic flow?

Back

A fast-moving current of hot gas and volcanic matter (tephra) that flows down the slopes of a volcano during an explosive eruption.

Front

What occurs at a divergent boundary?

Back

At a divergent boundary, tectonic plates pull apart from each other, leading to the formation of new crust.

Front

What is a convergent boundary?

Back

A type of plate boundary where two plates move towards each other, often causing one plate to be forced beneath the other.

Front

What is a strike-slip fault?

Back

A fault where two blocks of crust slide past each other horizontally, typically associated with transform boundaries.

Front

What is the focus of an earthquake?

Back

The focus is the point within the Earth where an earthquake originates, and seismic waves radiate outward from this point.

Front

What is the difference between magma and lava?

Back

Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has reached the surface.

Front

What is an explosive eruption?

Back

An explosive eruption is a volcanic eruption characterized by the violent expulsion of ash, gas, and lava.

Front

What is a tectonic plate?

Back

A tectonic plate is a massive slab of solid rock that makes up the Earth's lithosphere and moves over the semi-fluid asthenosphere.