Geological Concepts and Plate Tectonics

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Convection current

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A circular movement of a liquid or gas where warm, less dense material rises up and cooler, denser material sinks down, creating a continuous cycle of movement.

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Convergent boundary

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A place where two tectonic plates move towards each other and collide.

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Divergent boundary

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A place where two tectonic plates move apart, creating new crust and sometimes volcanoes and earthquakes.

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Geological event

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A natural occurrence that changes the Earth's surface or structure.

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Seafloor spreading

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A geologic process that occurs when tectonic plates move apart, creating new oceanic crust.

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Subduction

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A geological process that occurs when one tectonic plate moves beneath another at a convergent boundary.

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Transform boundary

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A place where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

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Continental drift theory

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The hypothesis that the Earth’s continents were once one large landmass and have moved over geologic time relative to each other.

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Pangaea

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All the continents on Earth were actually one huge 'supercontinent' surrounded by one enormous ocean.

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Plate tectonics theory

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Explains that the Earth's crust is made up of large, slowly moving pieces of rock called tectonic plates, which float on top of the mantle.