Across
- 3. The tectonic plate that North America is on
- 5. A branch of the earth sciences that combines aspects of geology and physics. It addresses the planet's physical processes as well as its gravitational, magnetic, and electric properties, and the means by which energy is transmitted through its interior.
- 7. The tectonic plate that Africa is on
- 8. The study of tectonism, including its causes and effects, most notably mountain building.
- 9. In early geologic time, a supercontinent that incorporated almost all the landmasses on Earth.
- 11. An underwater mountain system that consists of various mountain ranges (chains), typically having a valley known as a rift running along its spine, formed by plate tectonics.
- 13. The deformation of the lithosphere.
- 15. Large movable segments of the lithosphere.
- 16. An area of rock that has been bent by stress.
- 19. A mountain or hill having a crater or vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapour, and gas are being or have been erupted from the earth's crust
- 21. A tectonic process whereby plates slide past each other. It is one of the three ways, along with convergence and divergence, that plates interact.
- 23. A tectonic process that results when plates converge and one plate forces the other down into earth's mantle. As a result, the subducted plate eventually undergoes partial melting.
- 24. A form of stress produced by a force that acts to stretch a material.
- 25. The science that deals with the earth's physical structure and substance, its history, and the processes that act on it
- 30. A term describing a phenomenon whereby certain materials are subject to a form of decay brought about by the emission of high-energy particles or radiation.
- 32. Sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action
- 33. The tectonic plate that contains Europe and Asia
- 35. A process of plate tectonics where new oceanic crust is created as large slabs of the Earth's crust split apart from each other and magma wells up to fill the gap.
- 37. The theory that the configuration of Earth's continents was once different than it is today; that some of the individual landmasses of today once were joined in other continental forms; and that these landmasses later separated and moved to their present locations.
- 38. The tectonic plate that Antarctica is on
- 40. The theory that the Earth's crust and upper mantle (the lithosphere) is broken into a number of more or less rigid, but constantly moving, segments or plates
Down
- 1. A large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level; a large steep hill.
- 2. The tectonic plate that contains south America
- 4. The border between two plates
- 6. An abbreviation used by earth scientists, meaning "million years."
- 10. Upheavals or depressions of land exhibiting long wavelengths and little folding apart from broad undulations
- 12. The gathering of data without actual contact with the materials or objects being studied.
- 14. A deep depression in the ocean floor caused by the convergence of plates and the resulting subduction of one plate.
- 17. One of two principal forms of tectonism, the other being epeirogenesis. Derived from the Greek words for mountain and origin, this involves the formation of mountain ranges by means of folding, faulting, and volcanic activity. These processes play a major role in plate tectonics
- 18. The planet on which we live
- 20. The thick, dense layer of rock, approximately 1,429 mi. (2,300 km) thick, between Earth's crust and its core.
- 22. A general statement derived from a hypothesis that has withstood sufficient testing.
- 26. The study of Earth's physical history. It is one of two principal branches of geology, the other being physical geology.
- 27. The outer solid part of the earth, including the crust and uppermost mantle. The lithosphere is about 100 km thick, although its thickness is age-dependent (the older lithosphere is thicker).
- 28. The tectonic plate that India and Australia are on
- 29. A linear zone where the Earth's crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart.
- 31. A very large expanse of sea, in particular each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically.
- 34. The tectonic plate containing mostly ocean
- 36. An area of historical geology devoted to studying the direction and intensity of magnetic fields in the past, as discerned from the residual magnetization of rocks.
- 39. A weak point in the Earth's crust and upper mantle where the rock layers have ruptured and slipped. They are caused by earthquakes, and earthquakes are likely to reoccur on pre-existing faults.