Unit 1- Earth Systems and Resources
AP Environmental Science
AIM: What physical features and geological activities are associated with plate boundaries?
DO NOW:
1. What are the 3 types of plate boundaries?
2. What is the solid, outer portion of Earth called?
3. The solid, outer portion of Earth is divided into _________________________________
4. What is “plastic-like” portion of Earth called?
5. At what type of boundary does subduction occur and why?
Lithosphere:
• Earths solid outer layer consisting of the________________ and the uppermost mantle
• Divided into large _____________________________________
• Tectonic plates glide on top of the asthenosphere- the plastic-like portion of the upper ___________________
that moves because of ___________________________________________.
Plates interact at their boundaries:
– Divergent- plates slide ________________
– Convergent- plates slide _______________ each other
– Transform- plates slide ________________ each other
Divergent Boundaries:
• Convection currents move plates _____________________
• __________________ rises and fills in the space, and solidifies to form new ____________________________.
Divergent Boundaries:
1) Oceanic-Oceanic Divergence:_____________________________
• The ___________________________________ is an underwater mountain range
- Longest mountain range in the world
• The North American Plate and the _______________________ Plate are moving apart
• South American and ____________________Plate are moving apart
• “The theory of seafloor spreading”
2) Continental-Continental Divergence:_____________________________
• East African Rift Valley
Convergent Boundaries:
1) Continental-Oceanic
• When a continental and oceanic plate collide, the oceanic plate sinks, because it is more dense
• This is called ______________________________
• The continental plate “crunches up” into a ______________________________________________
• As the oceanic plate is subducted, it ____________ in the ______________ and rises to the surface as
__________________
• The _______________________________ (east coast of South American) were formed by subduction
• The Nazca plate and Antarctic plate are being subducted under the South American Plate
2) Continental-Continental:
• When continental plates collide, mountain ranges form.
• The ____________________ plate and the Indian plate are converging, forming the __________________________
Mountain Range.
3) Oceanic-Oceanic
• Volcanic _________________ form
• Oceanic ___________________ forms on the “ocean side” of the boundary
• __________________________ forms on “continental side” of boundary
• “Oceanic side” subducts under “continental side”
• _______________, Aleutian Islands, ___________________________ Islands
Volcanoes:
• Openings in Earth’s crust that allow lava, ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below.
• Magma (________________ rock below Earth’s surface)
• Lava (melted rock ________________ surface)
• __________ of volcanoes occur at __________________________ zones and mid-ocean ridges
Ring of Fire:
• Area in the ____________________ ocean where several plates are under constant __________________________
• Many volcanoes and earthquakes
HOMEWORK:
1. What physical feature is characteristic of 2 continental plates diverging. Give an example
2. What physical feature is characteristic of 2 oceanic plates diverging? Give an example.
3. Explain what happens when an oceanic plate and a continental plate converge.
• Explain how a mountain forms
•
Explain why this mountain is volcanic
•
Give an example in the world, and describe the activity of 2 plates involved
4. Explain what happens when 2 oceanic plates converge, and give an example of where this is occurring in
the world.
5 Explain what happens when 2 continental plates converge.
6. Give an example of a specific physical feature formed by 2 convergent continental plates
7. What type of plate activity is specifically associated with volcanic activity?
8. Where is the ring of fire?
9. Give 4 specific countries/places that fall in the Ring of Fire (Use map of plate tectonics/knowledge of
geography)
10. What is the difference between magma and lava?
11. How do convection current in the mantle move tectonic plates?
12. What type of plate must be involved for subduction to take place?