End of Natural Disasters Unit TEST Study Guide
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What are the three types of plate boundaries?
Divergent – plates pull away from each other
Convergent- plates collide and smash into each other
Transform – where plates slide and grind past each other (mostly on the ocean floor)
What is the difference between lithosphere and asthenosphere ?
o Lithosphere – rock layer at the top
o Asthenosphere – underneath the lithosphere half solid and half liquid
What is sea floor spreading?
o New ocean crust is form in the middle of the ocean (divergent boundary) the less
dense asthenosphere rises up in the middle ( this call mid ocean ridge)
What are fracture zones?
o Formed along transform faults (cracks in the rock perpendicular to the transform
boundaries)
What are the three types of convergent plate boundaries?
o Continent- ocean
o Continent – continent
o Ocean - ocean
Compare and contrast the types of ideas that are the driving forces for plate tectonics (there
are two of them, large convection currents, slab-push and slab pull)
o Large covenction currents: plates move on top of asthenosphere (moves like boiling
water)
o Slab push/slab pull: there is a difference in density the heavier end causes the lighter
to lift up (like see saw)
What are the three types of stress? Where does each take place?
o Tensional: pulling apart (divergent)
o Shear: smooth grinding (transform)
o Compressional: pushing (convergent)
There are three types of shocks what are they and give a description of each.
o Main shock: the big earthquake
o After shock: a small earthquake which happens after a main shock
o Foreshock: a small earthquake before the main shock
There are 4 types of waves associated with earthquakes (2 body waves and 2 surface waves)
what are they and give a description of each.
o Body waves – travels through the Earth
 P – wave solid liquid and gas, primary wave, travels faster, and arrives first
 S – wave solids only, secondary waves, travel slower, arrive second
o Surface waves – on the surface of the Earth
 L - Love
 R – Rayleigh
What is a tsunami?
o A strong wave of water, normally caused by an earthquake
o Goes on land at great speed.
Draw a diagram of how it happens.
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What are the three types of volcanoes, give an example of each, draw a diagram and give a
brief description
o Cinder cone volcano smaller looks like a cylinder Fugi small crater
o Sheildvolcano; wide not tall, not explosive Iceland
o Composite Volcano: round big crater in the middle
What is a hurricane? What are the conditions that allow them to form?
o A really big storm (strong wind and rain) travel counterclockwise
o Warm water, at least 5 degrees north or south of equator, low pressure
When is hurricane season?
o June 1 – November 30
What are terms used to describe the development of a hurricane?
o Tropical storm
o Tropical depression
o Tropical wave
o Tropical disturbance
How are hurricanes measured?
o Wind speed, pressure
Be able to give an example of each type of natural disaster and discuss the result.