Earth's Geology and Natural Phenomena

Volcanic Eruptions

Molten rock and gases are ejected through the Earth's crust.

Continental Drift

A slow horizontal movement of the continents.

Earthquakes

A violent trembling of the Earth's crust which lasts a short time and varies in intensity.

Isostasy

Slow vertical movement of the Earth's crust.

Our atmosphere was formed about 4,000 million years ago.

The Magnetic Field

Around the Earth originates in the outer core.

Hot Rocks

Allow the installation of geothermal plants that take advantage of the heat to vaporize water and produce electricity.

Hydrothermal Phenomena

Occur when water seeps into the crust through cracks, it gets into contact with rocks at high temperatures.

The Earth's crust is a rigid and cold layer. Magma is a mixture of gases and molten rock.

Shield Volcano: Hawaiian

The type of volcano formed by the eruption is called a shield volcano and is more extensive than high.

Stratovolcano: Strombolian

The type of volcano formed by the eruption is called a stratovolcano, is higher than extensive and with a cone-shaped, it is made by stacking pyroclastic and lava flows.

Dome Volcano: Vulcanian

The type of volcano formed by the eruption is called the dome. It is a volcano with a steep and narrow mountain-shaped, but is not very high.

Seismicity

In areas where two plates collide, or slide past another.

Volcanism

Both rift zones and subduction zones.

Subduction of the Lithosphere

This decreases the expanse of the ocean whose edge is subducting, as with the Pacific Ocean.

Formation of new oceanic lithosphere in the rift zones, which increases the expanse of ocean where the rift is. This occurs, for example, in the Atlantic Ocean.

Folding and fracturing of rocks forming the lithosphere, due to great pressure exerted by the jostling of plates on each other.

Formation of Relief

Folding of the lithosphere causes thickening and consequently its mountain chains are formed.

Mountain Ranges

Chains of mountains.

Great Plains

Large extensions of flat land.

Continental Shelves

Areas near the coastline under the sea, made up of continental crust.

Oceanic (Mid-Oceanic) Ridges

Chains of submarine mountains with intense volcanic activity.

Ocean Trenches

The deepest areas of the ocean.

Abyssal Plains

The largest plains on the planet.

Submarine Volcanoes

Can create volcanic archipelagos.