La’richia Gould
PART 1: INITIAL OBSERVATIONS AND HYPOTHESIS (10 pts)
Review the information on the “Part One” module then complete the prompts below. Submit your work to the designated D2L dropbox.
Observations (6 pts):
The western margin is mountainous.
It drops steeply into the Pacific Ocean.
It is bordered by an ocean trench.
The shoreline is rocky.
The continental shelf is narrow.
Hypothesis (4 pts):
The western margin of South America is mountainous as a result of compression associated with the oceanic-continental convergent boundary. This results in uplift of the crust which results in the formation of a mountain range.
The area is also characterized by volcanism on the surface of the overriding continental plate which also contributes to the formation of the mountain range.
The area is characterized by significant tectonic activity in the form of earthquakes due to the continued deformation of the subducting oceanic plate.
The shoreline is narrow, steep and rocky as it experiences frequent earthquakes which move sediment to the ocean waters.
The ocean trench that is along the edge of the continent marks the subduction site at which the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate.