Beneath the Surface: A Large Low Shear Velocity Quiz

Mantle plumes are vertical upwellings of hot material that originate from the deep mantle and rise towards the Earth's surface. They are associated with hotspot volcanism and can lead to the formation of volcanic islands or large igneous provinces.

The inner core has the highest density among the Earth's interior layers. It consists primarily of solid iron and nickel, and its high density is due to the immense pressure exerted by the overlying layers.

Mantle convection is the primary driving force behind plate tectonics. The convective movement of material in the mantle generates forces that cause tectonic plates to move and interact with one another.

Convergent plate boundaries are associated with the formation of mountain ranges. When two tectonic plates collide, they can crumple, fold, and uplift the Earth's crust, leading to the formation of extensive mountain systems.

Seafloor spreading refers to the motion of tectonic plates moving apart at mid-ocean ridges. As plates separate, magma wells up from the mantle, creating new seafloor and pushing the existing seafloor away from the ridge axis.

The Pacific Plate is the largest of the Earth's tectonic plates in terms of surface area. It is an oceanic plate that covers a vast region of the Pacific Ocean floor. Tectonic plates are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other. The Pacific Plate is bordered by several other major plates, including the North American Plate, the South American Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Antarctic Plate.  It covers over 103,000,000 km².

The asthenosphere is a zone of weakened, partially molten rock in the upper mantle. It exhibits plastic deformation and plays a crucial role in facilitating the movement of tectonic plates.

Convergent plate boundaries, specifically subduction zones, are responsible for the formation of volcanic arcs. When an oceanic plate subducts beneath another plate, it can cause melting in the mantle, leading to volcanic activity.

The mantle is the layer of the Earth's interior located between the crust and the outer core. It is characterized by low shear velocity, which signifies its ability to deform plastically over geological timescales.

Rift volcanism is the process responsible for the creation of new oceanic crust. It occurs at divergent plate boundaries where magma wells up from the mantle, cools, and solidifies to form new crust.

Slab pull is the main driving force behind subduction. It occurs at convergent plate boundaries when a denser oceanic plate sinks into the asthenosphere due to the pull generated by its own weight.

S-waves (Shear waves) cannot travel through the Earth's liquid outer core. These waves require a solid medium for propagation and can only pass through the Earth's solid materials, such as the inner core and the mantle.

Transform faults are associated with horizontal displacement and shear stress. They occur at plate boundaries where two plates slide past each other horizontally, and significant earthquakes can result from the accumulated stress along these faults.

The inner core primarily transfers heat by conduction. It is solid, and heat is conducted from the outer core to the inner core through the transfer of kinetic energy between atoms.