Overview:"Earth's Tectonic Activities" deals with five major ideas: First, the materials of the earth are generally segregated by density to create layers from the crust to the core, and these layers interact to make the earth dynamic; second, the outer layer of the earth is divided into about ten lithospheric plates that are moving relative to each other; third, earthquakes, mountain building and volcanoes are the result of the movement of plates, and occur along plate boundaries; fourth, earthquakes and volcanic activity are environmental hazards and may cause great damage, injury and loss of life; fifth, the mobility of the lithospheric plates, currents in deeper layers of the earth, and erosion of continents drive the rock cycle, which leads to three major rock types - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Textbook Assignment: Read Units 29 - 36 (pages 309 - 385).
Exercises: The exercise that you will complete in this section of the course are:
7. Where are the Earthquakes and Volcanoes?
Learning Objectives for Theme 3 - Earth's Tectonic Activities
- Know the major layers of the earth (excluding the atmosphere), the distinguishing features of each, and the approximate thickness of each.
- Be able to describe how igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks are produced, how their characteristics differ, and how this relates to the rock cycle.
- Be able to describe the major lithospheric plates, and to describe the forces that lead to plate movement.
- Be able to describe major events that occur along diverging, converging and lateral plate boundaries, including earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.
- Be able to describe the environmental hazards associated with earthquakes and volcanoes, and how each is characterized.
Learning Objectives for Units 29 - 36 in the Textbook
Unit 29 - Planet Earth in Profile: The Layered Interior
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 29.
- Be able to itemize the layers of the earth from crust to inner core, and present distinguishing characteristics of each.
- Briefly discuss how seismic waves help scientists understand how the earth is layered.
- Distinguish between continental and oceanic crust.
- Distinguish between continental shields and orogenic belts.
Unit 30 - Mineral and Igneous Rocks
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 30.
- Be able to distinguish between a mineral and a rock.
- Be able to list the most important elements in the earth (Table 30.2).
- Be able to describe how igneous rocks are formed.
Unit 31 - Sedimentary and metamorphic Rocks
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 31.
- Be able to describe the difference between sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
- Be able to follow the pathways of the rock cycle diagram (Figure 31.12) and describe the various processes in the rock cycle.
Unit 32 - Plates of the Lithosphere
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 32.
- Be able to outline the development of the concept that the lithosphere is divided into plates that move relative to each other.
- Be able to list the large plates.
- Be able to identify the location of the Rim of Fire, and describe its relation to plate tectonics.
- Be able to describe plate divergence, convergence and lateral motion, and give an example of each.
Unit 33 - Plate Movement: Causes and Effects
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 33.
- Be able to give the range of velocities at which lithospheric plates are moving, and give n example for one plate.
- Be able to describe the mechanism of crustal spreading, as shown in Figure 33.2.
- Be able to describe isostasy and how it relates to continental erosion, ice sheets and isostatic rebound.
Unit 34 - Volcanism and Its Landforms
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 34.
- Distinguish between active, dormant and extinct volcanoes.
- Describe how the Columbia River Plateau was formed.
- Draw the cross-section of a composite volcano.
- Distinguish between a composite volcano and a shield volcano.
- Describe why phreatic eruptions are so violent, and give three examples of phreatic eruptions in human history.
Unit 35 - Earthquakes and landscapes
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 35.
- Describe how the location of an earthquake is specified.
- Describe how the intended use of the Richter and Mercalli scales differ.
- Be able to sketch on a world map the general distribution of earthquakes, to distinguish between the Circum-Pacific belt, the Trans-Eurasian belt, and midoceanic ridges..
- Describe the New Madrid earthquake, including what is known about its causes, when it occurred, and some of its impacts.
- Describe what causes a tsunami, where it is dangerous, and what dangers it poses.
Unit 36 - Surface Expressions of Subsurface Structures
- Know how to define and use the key terms listed in the glossary for Unit 36.
- Be able to diagram the structure of a compressional fault and discuss how it forms.
- Be able to diagram the structure of a tensional fault and discuss how it forms.
- Be able to diagram the structure of a transverse fault and discuss how it forms.
- Give an example of a landscape produced by folding and subsequent erosion.
Glossary for Units 29 - 36
Unit 29 - Planet Earth in Profile: The Layered Interior
Earthquake
Seismic Wave
Inner Core
Outer Core
Lower Mantle
Upper Mantle
Lithosphere
Mohorovicic Discontinuity (Moho)
Sial
Sima
Asthenosphere
Lithospheric Plate
Relief
Continental Shields
Orogenic Belts
Gradational Processes
Unit 30 - Minerals and Igneous Rocks
Mineral
Rock
Mineral Properties
Magma
Igneous Rock
Sedimentary Rock
Metamorphic Rock
Unit 31 - Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
Compaction
Cementation
Clastic
Nonclastic
Stratification
Rock Cycle
Unit 32 - Plates of the Lithosphere
Pangaea
Gondwana
Laurasia
Continental Drift
Seafloor Spreading
Crustal Spreading
Pacific Ring of Fire
Plate Divergence
Plate Convergence
Subduction
Unit 33 - Plate Movement: Causes and Effects
Suspect Terrane
Isostasy
Unit 34 - Volcanism and Its Landforms
Pyroclastics
Lahar
Nuee Ardente
Shield Volcano
Hot Spot
Caldera
Phreatic Eruption
Unit 35 - Earthquakes and Landscapes
Fault
Earthquake
Focus
Epicenter
Magnitude
Intensity
Circum-Pacific Belt
Trans-Eurasian Belt
Intraplate Earthquake
Tsunami
Unit 36 - Surface Expressions of Subsurface Structures
Strike
Dip
Fault
Compressional Stress
Tensional Stress
Thrust Fault
Normal Fault
Graben
Horst
Transform Fault
Anticline
Syncline
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Unit Objectives 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 
