Unit 3 Vocab

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Asthenosphere

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The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth located beneath the lithosphere. It is involved in plate tectonic movements and isostatic adjustments.

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Convergent boundary

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A convergent boundary is a tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other, often causing one plate to slide beneath the other in a process known as subduction.

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Divergent boundary

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A divergent boundary is a tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other, and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth's surface between the two plates.

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Transform boundary

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A transform boundary is a type of fault whose relative motion is predominantly horizontal in either sinistral or dextral direction.

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Subduction zone

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A subduction zone is a region of the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet and one plate is forced under another into the mantle.

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Ridge Push

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Ridge push is a proposed driving force for plate motion in plate tectonics that occurs at mid-ocean ridges due to the high elevation of the ridge.

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Shield Volcano

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A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield.

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Hot Spot

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A hot spot is a location on the Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time, often not at a plate boundary.

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Fault

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A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock, which allows the blocks to move relative to each other.

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Cinder cone volcano

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A cinder cone volcano is a steep, conical hill consisting of glassy volcanic fragments that accumulate around and downwind from a volcanic vent.