Download 4th Six Weeks Plate Tectonics and Topographic Maps Study Guide

4th Six Weeks
Plate Tectonics and Topographic Maps
Study Guide
1. What is erosion and what causes it? Give a few examples.
Erosion is the movement of sediments and is caused by weathering, (breaking down of
sediments physically or chemically).
2. How is a volcano formed?
A volcano is formed when magma builds up under oceanic crust or where oceanic crust
meets continental crust, (convergent/subduction), and erupts through the sea floor,
building up greater than sea level.
3. How are mountains formed?
Mountains are formed at convergent plate boundaries—continental to continental crust—
when to plates collide
4. What is Pangea?
The supercontinent of adjoined landmasses that Alfred Wegener named when he came up
with the theory of continental drif.t
5. The theory of continental drift is supported by what evidence?
*Fossils and animals are similar on continents across the ocean from each other
*Coal deposits were found in Antarctica that actually form on warm, swampy climates
*Puzzle-like fit of continents
*Glacial deposits
*Similar climates
6. List the types of plate boundaries, the direction in which they move, and which land
features are formed from each. (You may want to use your bathymetric map.)
1) Divergent; (divide) <- ->; ridges, rises, rift valleys (Mid Atlantic Ocean Ridge, Great Rift Valley)
2) Convergent; (collide) -> <-; mountains, volcanoes, trenches (Rocky Mountains, Mt. St. Helen’s)
3) Transform -> ; (slide past one another) earthquakes, strike-slip faults, faults (San Andreas)
<-
7. What causes earthquakes and where do they occur commonly?
Earthquakes occur most often at transform plate boundaries. Heat from friction of plates
sliding past each other causes parts of plates to crumble, forming faults.
8. How does weathering affect land formations, such as islands?
Weathering, physical or chemical, causes land to be broken down in time or in an instant
during catastrophic events. This changes the topography of land features.
Waves crashing onto ocean shores causing weathering and erosion, changing the coastline.
9. What is the theory of Plate Tectonics?
The theory of plate tectonics is described as the Earth’s crust, (lithosphere), is created of
plates that are moving due to convection currents of a magma-like substance in the Earth’s
asthenosphere.
10. Why do plates in the Earth’s lithosphere move?
Lithospheric plates are moving because of convection currents in Earth’s asthenosphere,
which is under the Earth’s crust
11. What is a topographic map?
A topographic map shows elevations of land features using contour lines.
12. What are some specific features on a topographic map?
Contour lines, compass, distance scale, symbols of land features
13. Why is it important to have compass directions on a topographic map?
It is important to have a compass on a topographic map to show directions and to identify
land features correctly, and to know which way you are headed on a route
14. Why is it important to include a scale on a topographic map?
To know the correct distance of land features—especially if you are hiking and such
15. Why would it be important to update the topographic map of an area?
It is important to update a topographic map periodically, because land features change due
to weathering and erosion.
16. How do you find differences in elevations? Give an example
Determine the contour interval of the land feature and calculate the elevation.
Peak A is 800 m, and Peak B is 300 m. The difference in elevation between Peak A and Peak
B is 500 m. (800-300=500m)
17. How could shaded relief (a shaded area on the topographic map) help you identify the
actual photograph of land formation?
Match the shaded area of the topographic map with the shaded area of the satellite image
or profile picture.