What is a continental margin? What are the differences between active and passive margins? Include alternative names for the margins and the plate boundaries associated with each
· Continental margins are the outer edges of the continents. These are heavily influenced by plate tectonics.
· There are three divisions of continental margins. The continental shelf is the shallow, relatively flat section that is close to shore. The continental slope is the more steep section of the margin that goes seaward. The last division is the continental rise which blends the continental margin into the deep-ocean basins.
· Active margins are associated with converging plate boundaries. There is high earthquake and volcanic activity at these margins. This type of margin generally has a narrow shelf with varying topography. These are often called Pacific-type margins due to their common occurrence in the Pacific.
· Passive margins occur at diverging plate boundaries. There is a broad shelf with a gentle slope. They are also called Atlantic-type margins. There is very little earthquake and volcanic activity at these locations.
You might also like to view...
Some people wear bandanas soaked in water to keep cool during the summer. How does this process work?
What will be an ideal response?
In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond attributes the conquest by Europeans of the Americas, Africa, Pacific Islands, and portions of Asia to a host of factors. Which among the following is not mentioned by Diamond as a reason?
A. Eurasia's abundance of cultivatable plants B. Eurasia's supply of large animals suitable for domestication C. Eurasia's biological stock of advantageous racial characteristics D. Eurasia's east-to-west orientation of similar climates and landforms
Compare and contrast cratons and mobile belts. What types of rocks are they composed of and what are the relative
ages of these rocks? Provide specific examples of cratons and mobile belts. What will be an ideal response?
How are Detrital sedimentary rocks primarily classified?
a. Aphanitic or Phaneritic b. Igneous Texture c. Color d. Grain or Particle Size