Marine Science
Chapter 2 Study Guide
Format:
Multiple choice
Diagram labeling/interpretation
Short answer
Important Terms:
The following terms will be important to know and understand for the test.
density
Pangea
core
mantle
crust
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
continental crust
oceanic crust
continental drift
plate tectonics
Alfred Wegener
convergent boundary
divergent boundary
mid-ocean ridge
transform fault
trench
sea-floor spreading
magnetic reversal
rift
subduction
subduction zone
island arc
shear boundary
hot spot
hydrothermal vents
continental margins
continental shelf
continental slope
continental rise
abyssal plain
shelf break
seamount
guyot
active margin
passive margin
Mariana Trench
Hawaiian Islands
East Pacific Rise
Ring of Fire
Peru-Chile Trench
Himalayas
Aleutian Island Chain
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Islands
Juan de Fuca Plate
Significant Locations:
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Southern Ocean
Important Concepts:
A student in this course should be able to:
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

Explain what processes created the Earth and moon.
Know the age of the Earth and its early characteristics shortly after formation.
Describe how water may have been brought about on the Earth. Provide evidence for the
theory that comets may have delivered some of this water.
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Locate all major geological plates and major ocean geological features (see Figs. 2.1, 2.5, &
2.9)
Identify Earth’s internal structural layers. Be able to label a cross-sectional diagram of the
earth.
Explain the major characteristics of Earth’s internal structural layers.
Explain the differences between oceanic crust and continental crust.
Understand the basis of Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift.
State the theory of plate tectonics.
Use the theory of plate tectonics to explain the present-day position of the continents and
Earth’s major geological features and how they have developed since the break-up of
Pangaea.
Explain the differences between convergent, divergent, and shear boundaries. Be able to give
an example of each and describe the major features of each.
Be able to identify a particular plate boundary as convergent, divergent, or shear.
Describe the formation and characteristics of mid-ocean ridges and transform faults.
Identify and explain evidence for the creation of sea floor at mid-ocean ridges.
Explain the process of subduction.
Describe how subduction provides for the formation of trenches, earthquakes, island arcs and
volcanoes.
Explain how banded magnetic anomalies provide evidence for the formation of the ocean
floor and spreading plates.
Describe the formation and ecological significance of hydrothermal vents.
Explain the significance of hot spots. Give examples of geological features that are
considered hot spots.
Identify on a figure (i.e. Fig 2.17) the characteristics of the continental margin and the
geological provinces of the ocean.
Contrast and give examples of active and passive continental margins.
Marine Science
Chapter 2 Study Guide
Format:
Multiple choice
Diagram labeling/interpretation
Short answer
Important Terms:
The following terms will be important to know and understand for the test.
density
Pangea
core
mantle
crust
lithosphere
asthenosphere
mesosphere
continental crust
oceanic crust
continental drift
plate tectonics
lithospheric plates
Alfred Wegener
convergent boundary
divergent boundary
mid-ocean ridge
fault
transform fault
trench
sea-floor spreading
magnetic reversal
magnetic anomalies
rift
subduction
subduction zone
island arc
shear boundary
hot spot
continental margins
continental shelf
continental slope
continental rise
abyssal plain
shelf break
seamount
guyot
active margin
passive margin
Mariana Trench
Hawaiian Islands
East Pacific Rise
Ring of Fire
Peru-Chile Trench
Himalayas
Aleutian Island Chain
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Islands
Juan de Fuca Plate
Significant Locations:
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Southern Ocean
Important Concepts:
A student in this course should be able to:



Explain what processes created the Earth and moon.
Know the age of the Earth and its early characteristics shortly after formation.
Describe how water may have been brought about on the Earth. Provide evidence for the
theory that comets may have delivered some of this water.

















Locate all major geological plates and major ocean geological features (see Figs. 2.1, 2.5, &
2.9)
Identify Earth’s internal structural layers. Be able to label a cross-sectional diagram of the
earth.
Explain the major characteristics of Earth’s internal structural layers.
Explain the differences between oceanic crust and continental crust.
Understand the basis of Alfred Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift.
State the theory of plate tectonics.
Use the theory of plate tectonics to explain the present-day position of the continents and
Earth’s major geological features and how they have developed since the break-up of
Pangaea.
Explain the differences between convergent, divergent, and shear boundaries. Be able to give
an example of each and describe the major features of each.
Be able to identify a particular plate boundary as convergent, divergent, or shear.
Describe the formation and characteristics of mid-ocean ridges and transform faults.
Identify and explain evidence for the creation of sea floor at mid-ocean ridges.
Explain the process of subduction.
Describe how subduction provides for the formation of trenches, earthquakes, island arcs and
volcanoes.
Explain how banded magnetic anomalies provide evidence for the formation of the ocean
floor and spreading plates.
Explain the significance of hot spots. Give examples of geological features that are
considered hot spots.
Identify on a figure (i.e. Fig 2.17) the characteristics of the continental margin and the
geological provinces of the ocean.
Contrast and give examples of active and passive continental margins.