Exam2 STUDY GUIDE
Plate Tectonics
1. Describe Wegener’s Continental Drift Theory. What evidence did he use? What is
Pangaea? Why was his theory rejected?
2. Explain sea floor spreading and how it led to plate tectonics theory.
3. What is the Plate Tectonics Theory? What are the 3 types of boundaries-describe each
and what geological hazards are associated with each.
4. What are the different explanations for the mechanism behind plate tectonics?
5. How does plate tectonics explain the global distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes and
mountain building?
Crustal Deformation and Earthquakes
1. Explain what is folding and faulting. What are anticlines, synclines? What are the
types of faults? What is dip and strike? Isostasy?
2. What is seismology? Elastic-rebound? Foreshocks, aftershocks?
3. What are the types of seismic waves and how are they measured?
4. How do geologists find the epicenter of quakes? What is the Richter Scale? The MMI
Scale?
5. Explain tsunamis, liquifaction, seiche waves.
6. How are quakes predicted?
7. What is the geography of earthquakes and how does it reflect plate tectonics?
Volcanism
1. What is a volcano? What are the different types and how do they form?
2. What is LaCroix’s classification of volcanic eruptiveness?
3. What are hot spots? Where are they?
4. How do people predict eruptions?
5. Explain intrusive igneous features-dikes, sills, batholiths, laccoliths, stocks.
6. What are the hazards and benefits of volcanism?
7. What is the geography of volcanoes and how does it reflect plate tectonics?