EES Page 1 of 21 Goal 2.1 Earth’s Internal Processes M.Sewell 812J

Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 1: Plate Tectonics

Focus Question: ________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

A. Continental Drift

1. What is the theory of continental drift?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2. Go back to p. 443. Why did early mapmakers think that the continents might have

moved? I.e. What observation did they make?

_______________________________________________________________

3. What was Pangaea? _______________________________________________

4. What is the evidence that shows that continental drift occurred?

a. __________________________________________________________

b. __________________________________________________________

c. __________________________________________________________

B. Seafloor Spreading

1. What is the theory of seafloor spreading? ______________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. A preview of ocean floor topography!

a. What is an ocean ridge?

__________________________________________________________

b. What is a deep sea trench?

__________________________________________________________

How deep can trenches be? _________ km

3. Evidence that shows that the seafloor is spreading…

a. Ocean Rocks and Sediments – The ages of the rocks that make up the

seafloor vary in different places. Rock samples taken from areas near ocean

ridges were ______________________ than samples taken from areas near

deep-sea trenches.

i. Draw Figure Label ocean ridge, trench, younger rocks, older rocks.

ii. Review! Where are the youngest rocks? trenches or ocean ridges

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b. Magnetism – The igneous rock formed at the ocean ridges, basalt, is rich in

iron-bearing minerals. Because of this, it provides an accurate record of

ancient ____________________.

i. Earth has had a series of magnetic reversals or _________________ in

Earth’s magnetic field.

ii. These reversals are “recorded” in the ocean floor.

iii. The magnetic pattern on one side of the ridge is a _________________

image of the pattern on the other side of the ridge.

iv. Draw the bottom layer of the Figure. Label the four epochs that form a

mirror image on both sides of the spreading seafloor.

4. Draw image which shows how seafloor spreading occurs. Underneath each picture,

describe that step of seafloor spreading. See captions A, B, C.

Step A – Write this! Step B– Write this! Step C– Write this!

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Reinforcement Lesson 1

Seafloor Spreading on Land

1. What is the name of the landmass through which the mid-ocean ridge in the

Atlantic Ocean passes? ___________________________________

2. Why do geologists find Iceland a useful place to carry on research on seafloor

spreading?

_______________________________________________________________

3. Where is another place ON LAND where scientists can see a divergent boundary?

_______________________________________________________________

Lesson 2

Plate Tectonics, Part 2

C. Plate Tectonics

What is the theory of plate tectonics? ________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Color the tectonic plates using legend on the power point as a reference.

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1. Divergent Boundaries – Draw Div. Bound. In the right hand column, write the

geological processes associated with these boundaries.

Divergent Boundary 1. Geological Processes at Divergent

Boundaries…

b. ____________________________

c. ____________________________

d. ____________________________

2. On a continent, a divergent boundary forms a

__________________ valley.

3. Under the ocean, a divergent boundary

forms the _________________ ridge.

4. Examples include _________________

______________________________

2. Convergent Boundaries – Draw Figures of Convergent boundaries in PPt. In the

right hand column, fill in the blanks to describe the landforms associated with these

boundaries.

Ocean/Ocean Convergent Boundary

1. The process of subduction creates a

________________________.

2. Above the deep-sea trench, melted

crust rises to form an arc of

___________________ islands.

3. Examples of this type of boundary are

the ___________ Islands in the West

Pacific Ocean and the island nations of

________________________ and

________________________.

Ocean/Continental Convergent Boundary

1. The denser ____________________

plate subducts under the continental

plate.

2. A ________________________

mountain range forms on land above

the subduction zone.

3. Examples of this type of boundary are

the ____________________ Mtns

of S. America and the ____________

Mtns. of N. America.

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Continental/Continental Convergent Boundary

1. A ________________________

mountain range is formed when two

continental plates collide.

2. An example of this is the

_____________________ Mtns.

3. These mountains continue to grow as

the ____________________ plate

converges into the ______________

plate.

3. Transform Boundaries - Draw Figure in PPt. In the right hand column, describe

the geologic activity that is common along transform boundaries. Transform Plate Boundary

1. At transform boundaries, crust is only

deformed or

______________________.

2. Transform boundaries are characterized

by shallow ______________________.

An example of a transform boundary is the

_____________________ in California.

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Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 2 Addendum: Causes of Plate Movements

D. Causes of Plate Movements

1. What is one hypothesis that explains what causes tectonic plates to move?

_______________________________________________________________

2. A few definitions are in order here!

a. mantle

_________________________________________________________

b. asthenosphere

_________________________________________________________

c. convection

_________________________________________________________

d. convection current

_________________________________________________________

3. Explain how the following mechanisms (processes) cause the lithospheric plates to

move…

a. … the rising part of the convection current -

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

b. … the downward part of the convection current -

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

c. … ridge push -

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

d. … slab pull (also referred to as gravity pull) -

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. Draw Figure in PPt and label every single part!!

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Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 2 Computer Lab

Plate Boundary Activity

Name: _______________________ Date: _______________ Period: _______

1. Use the web site: http://geology.com/plate-tectonics.shtml

2. Click on the red balloons to learn about the tectonic features of the area. You

choose the sites.

3. Record the information for each site below.

Type of Boundary-

D- divergent

T – transform

C – convergent

(o/o, o/c, c/c)

Location on Earth –

Be specific

Plates Involved –

Look at your map if this

is not given in the

bubble.

Landform or Geologic

Activity –

volcanoes? volcanic

islands? earthquakes?

lakes? midocean ridges?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

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Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 3: Volcanoes, Part 1

A. Magma

1. Review! What is magma?

_______________________________________________________________

2. Types of magma (lava) – Fill in the chart below.

Magma or

Lava Type

Gas

Content

Silica

Content

Viscosity

Explosiveness

Location of This

Type of Magma/Lava

Example of

each

Basaltic

Andesitic

Rhyolitic

3. What do you notice about the relationship between the viscosity of magma and its

explosiveness?

_______________________________________________________________

B. Intrusive Activity

1. What is a pluton? From what is the term derived?

_______________________________________________________________

2. What is the type of pluton that makes up the interior of mountains?

__________________________

C. Volcano Basics

1. What is lava? _________________________________________________________

2. What is a volcano? _________________________________________________________

3. Define the following…

a. Vent - ____________________________________________________

b. Crater - __________________________________________________

c. Caldera - __________________________________________________

d. Magma chamber - ___________________________________________

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4. Label the parts of the composite volcano below using the terms above.

http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect2/VolcanoStructure.jpg

D. Types of Volcanoes – Read pp. 481-483 and fill in the chart below.

Type of

Volcano (Draw a Picture.)

How It Forms Description

(size and shape)

Examples

Shield

Cinder-cone

Composite

3.

2.

1.

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Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 4: Volcanoes, Part 2

E. Tephra

1. What is tephra? ____________________________________________

2. Put the following tephra in order from smallest to largest – lapilli, blocks and

bombs, ash, and dust. _________________________________________________________

3. What is a pyroclastic flow? Why is it so deadly? _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

4. How does a pyroclastic flow affect the atmosphere?

_______________________________________________________________

F. Effects of a Volcanic Eruption on the Lithosphere – (notes on power point)

1. What is a lahar? What causes it?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2. Why do earthquakes often precede volcanic eruptions?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3. Why do landslides occur during volcanic eruptions?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

4. How does a volcanic eruption cause a tsunami?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

5. How do the eruptions of Kilauea in Hawaii affect the land around it?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

6. How did the eruption of Krakatoa affect the islands around it?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

7. How do the eruptions of the volcanoes in Iceland affect the land around them?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

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G. Locating Volcanoes

Where do volcanoes occur? Describe how volcanoes form at each of the following

locations. Give examples of where on Earth you would find each type.

1. Convergent boundaries -

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

examples -

_______________________________________________________________

2. Divergent boundaries -

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

examples -

_______________________________________________________________

3. Hot spots -

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

examples -

_______________________________________________________________

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Earth’s Internal Processes Reinforcement Lesson 4

Plotting Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Instructions…

1. Plot the earthquakes and volcanoes on the world map. Write a red number/triangle

for each volcano and a blue number/star for each earthquake.

2. Lightly shade the three main earthquake/zones the following colors…

a. Mid-Atlantic Ridge - yellow

b. Circum-Pacific Belt - orange

c. Mediterranean-Asian Belt – brown

Earthquake Latitude Longitude Volcano Latitude Longitude

1 40 N 120 W 1 60 N 150 W

2 5 S 110 E 2 35 S 70 W

3 4 S 77 W 3 45 N 120 W

4 23 N 88 E 4 15 N 61 W

5 14 S 121 E 5 20 N 105 W

6 7 N 34 E 6 0 75 W

7 44 N 74 W 7 40 N 122 W

8 30 S 70 W 8 40 N 30 E

9 45 N 10 E 9 30 N 60 E

10 13 N 85 W 10 55 N 160 E

11 23 N 125 E 11 3 S 37 E

12 35 N 30 E 12 40 N 145 E

13 35 N 140 E 13 10 S 120 E

14 46 N 12 E 14 41 N 14 E

15 28 N 75 E 15 5 S 105 E

16 61 N 150 W 16 15 N 35 E

17 47 S 68 W 17 30 S 70 W

Summary Questions…

1. Do earthquakes and volcanoes appear worldwide in a random pattern or do they

appear in regions and zones? (Circle one.)

2. Describe the pattern or location of earthquakes and volcanoes…

a. … in the Atlantic Ocean

_________________________________________________________

b. … in the Pacific Ocean

_________________________________________________________

c. … in the Mediterranean Sea

_________________________________________________________

3. What causes the patterns of earthquakes and volcanoes that you just described?

_______________________________________________________________

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EES Page 14 of 21 Goal 2.1 Earth’s Internal Processes M.Sewell 812J

Earth’s Internal Processes

Lesson 5: Earthquakes: Forces and Faults

What is an earthquake?

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

A. Stress and Strain…

1. When do most earthquakes occur?

_______________________________________________________________

2. When do fractures form?

_______________________________________________________________

3. Stress: Describe the three types of stress and draw a picture of each. Draw both the

dotted lines (before the stress) and the solid lines (after the stress).

Type of

Stress

Compression (A) Tension (B) Shear (C)

Description

Diagram

4. What is strain?

_______________________________________________________________

Which line is it represented by in your diagrams above – dotted / solid? (Circle one.)

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B. Faults

1. What causes rocks to fail and form a fault?

_______________________________________________________________

2. Faults: Describe the three types of faults and draw them in the chart below.

Type of

Fault

Reverse Normal Strike-slip

Caused by…

Movement of

Crust …

Diagram

C. Earthquake Waves

1. What are seismic waves?

_______________________________________________________________

2. How do the following types of seismic waves move the rocks through which they

travel?

a. Primary waves (P-waves)

_________________________________________________________

b. Secondary waves (S-waves)

_________________________________________________________

c. Surface waves

_________________________________________________________

5. Which of the 2 types of waves listed above pass through Earth’s interior? _______

6. Where is the focus of most earthquakes usually located?

_______________________________________________________________

7. In the space below, draw Figure in ppt and label: epicenter, fault, and focus.

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Earth’s Internal Processes: Lesson 6

Earthquakes: Seismic Waves and Earth’s Interior

D. Seismic Waves and Earth’s Interior A few “earth-shaking” terms!

a. Seismology is the study of _________________________.

b. A seismologist is someone who studies _____________________.

c. A seismometer is used to detect and record _____________________.

d. A seismogram is the record of an _______________________.

e. What do you think “seismo-“ means? _____________________________

E. Travel-Time Curves…

1. Which waves always arrive first at a seismic facility? _______________________

2. What do travel-time curves show?

_______________________________________________________________

3. You will need to know how to use a travel-time curve.

4. Waves recorded on seismograms from more distant facilities are ______________

apart than waves recorded on seismograms at stations closer to the epicenter.

F. Clues to Earth’s Interior…

1. Where does most of the knowledge of Earth’s interior come from?

_______________________________________________________________

2. How do P-waves and S-waves move through the mantle?

_______________________________________________________________

3. What do P-waves do when they strike the core?

_______________________________________________________________

4. Why don’t S-waves enter Earth’s core?

_______________________________________________________________

5. What does the disappearance of S-waves tell scientists about Earth’s outer core?

_______________________________________________________________

6. What shows us that Earth’s inner core is solid?

_______________________________________________________________

G. Earth’s Internal Structure… fill in the chart to describe which rocks or minerals make

up the different parts of Earth.

Crust of Lithosphere Upper Mantle Asthenosphere Lower Mantle Core

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Fill in the way S-waves (use dotted lines) and P-waves (use solid lines) move through

Earth’s interior in the diagram below. Label the mantle, outer core, inner core.

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Earth’s Internal Processes: Lesson 7

Earthquakes: Measuring and Locating Earthquakes

H. Earthquake Magnitude and Intensity

How is the amount of energy released by an earthquake measured?

_______________________________________________________________

1. The Richter Scale…

a. On what is the Richter scale based?

_______________________________________________________________

b. What does each successive number in the scale represent?

_______________________________________________________________

c. To what does each increase in magnitude correspond?

_______________________________________________________________

d. As an example of the concept in Question 4, how much more energy is released by a

magnitude 8 earthquake compared to a magnitude 7 earthquake? _______

2. The Moment Magnitude Scale…

a. What does the moment magnitude scale take into account?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

b. From what are moment magnitude values estimated?

_______________________________________________________________

3. The Modified Mercalli Scale…

a. How can the intensity of an earthquake be determined?

_______________________________________________________________

b. How is the modified Mercalli scale used to determine the intensity of an

earthquake?

_______________________________________________________________

c. What types of numbers does this scale use and what is its range?

_______________________________________________________________

d. On what does earthquake intensity depend?

_______________________________________________________________

e. What happens to Mercalli values at distances very far from the epicenter?

_______________________________________________________________

f. How is a seismic intensity map made?

_______________________________________________________________

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g. Besides earthquake magnitude, what is another factor that determines the intensity

of an earthquake? _________________________________________________

h. What produces the most catastrophic earthquakes? shallow or deep focus events?

I. Locating an Earthquake

1. How is the distance to an earthquake’s epicenter determined?

_______________________________________________________________

2. What is this distance called? _________________________________________

3. How many seismic stations are needed to determine an earthquakes epicenter? _____

4. What graph is used to determine the exact time of an earthquake? ____________

J. Seismic Belts– Refer to the map. Outline in red the seismic activity on the map below.

1. With what are most are most earthquakes associated? _______________________

2. Where do almost 80% of earthquakes occur? _______________________________

3. Where do another 15% of earthquakes occur? ______________________________

4. Where do most of the remaining earthquakes occur? _________________________

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Earth’s Internal Processes Lesson 8

Earthquakes: Earthquake Hazards

Some Earthquake Hazards

Structural Failure…

1. Which types of buildings sustain the most severe damage from an earthquake?

_______________________________________________________________

2. Which two types of buildings sustain the least amount of damage from an

earthquake?

a. _________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________

3. What is “pancaking?” _______________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

4. Why do buildings with 5 to 15 stories collapse during an earthquake when shorter or

taller buildings do not?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Land and Soil Failure…

5. What might earthquakes trigger in sloping areas? _________________________

6. What is soil liquefaction? ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

7. Why are seismic waves amplified (made bigger) in soft materials such as soil?

_______________________________________________________________

8. In light of this, why was there so much damage to structures in the 1985 Mexico

City earthquake?

_______________________________________________________________

Fault Scarps…

9. What is a fault scarp?

_______________________________________________________________

10. Where are the fault-scarps shown in Figures 19-17 and 19-18?

_______________________________________________________________

11. What did the fault scarp shown in Figure 19-18 create? _____________________

Tsunami…

12. What causes a tsunami?

_______________________________________________________________

13. How high are tsunamis in the open ocean? _______________________________

14. In light of this, would you be likely to notice a tsunami if you were out at sea? ____

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15. Why are tsunamis dangerous when they enter shallow water? (Give two reasons.)

a. _________________________________________________________

b. _________________________________________________________

16. Where was the most recent devastating tsunami? _________________________

Seismic Risk

17. Review! Where do most earthquakes occur? _____________________________

18. Research available information.

a. List five states that have the greatest seismic risk.

_________________________________________________________

b. What is the seismic risk of the North Carolina Piedmont and mountains?

_________________________________________________________

c. What is the seismic risk of the coastal plains of North Carolina?

_________________________________________________________

Earthquake Prediction

19. What type of studies is earthquake prediction based on? ____________________

20. What do earthquake recurrence rates indicate?

_______________________________________________________________

21. What is a seismic gap?

_______________________________________________________________

22. What is likely to happen at a seismic gap? _______________________________

Give an example of a seismic gap from the book.

_______________________________________________________________

23. What is another factor used to determine earthquake probability along a section of

a fault?

_______________________________________________________________

24. Why is earthquake prediction important?

_______________________________________________________________