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WHEN CONTINENTS COLLIDE [4 records]

Record 1 2009-06-22

English

Subject field(s)
  • Plate Tectonics
CONT

When two plates move toward one another, they form either a subduction zone or a continental collision. This depends on the nature of the plates involved. In a subduction zone, the subducting plate, which is normally a plate with oceanic crust, moves beneath the other plate, which can be made of either oceanic or continental crust.

CONT

Separation of the crust is a common occurrence when continents collide. It happens when the subsiding plate of a continent reaches the subduction zone faster than the adjacent areas.

CONT

An accretionary wedge forms along a convergent plate boundary when material is scraped from a sinking, subducting plate and is added to (accreted) another larger plate along a convergent plate boundary.

OBS

subducting plate; subsiding plate: terms used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tectonique des plaques
CONT

Une zone de subduction sous une marge continentale présente l'association de reliefs positifs et négatifs importants. Les reliefs négatifs correspondent à la fosse océanique. Celle-ci peut atteindre plus de 10 000 m de profondeur. Elle est due à l'inclinaison progressive de la plaque plongeante sous le continent [...]

CONT

subduction : Phénomène de convergence lithosphérique, marquée par la disparition de la lithosphère océanique froide et dense (= plaque plongeante, chevauchée) dans une asthénosphère moins dense, sous une plaque lithosphérique chevauchante.

OBS

plaque plongeante : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Spanish

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Record 2 2009-03-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Plate Tectonics
DEF

An orogen produced as a result of a collision of two continents.

CONT

When the tectonic plates carrying large continental shields collide, it is common for two buoyant continents to meet along a front called a collisional orogen.

OBS

e.g., the collision of India with Asia that resulted in the formation of the Himalaya.

OBS

collision orogen: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tectonique des plaques
CONT

Lorsque les plaques tectoniques qui transportent de grands boucliers continentaux entrent en collision, il arrive fréquemment que les deux continents flottants se rencontrent le long d'un front qu'on appelle orogène de collision.

OBS

orogène de collision : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 2009-01-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Plate Tectonics
DEF

Lineation in continental lithosphere marking the location of an earlier plate collision that led to the amalgamation of formerly separate continental masses.

CONT

Continent-Continent Convergence-Low-density continental lithosphere does not easily subduct, so that when two continents collide the two continents may more or less "weld" together in a suture zone. The continent crust may be thickened, because one continent plate can slide(grudgingly) a little way under the other. The result is a mountain range or high plateau in the interior of an enlarged(accreted) continent.

CONT

When two plates containing continental crust converge a suture zone is formed and the continental crust thickens.

OBS

suture zone: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tectonique des plaques
DEF

Importante faille d'une ceinture orogénique supposée marquer la frontière entre deux plaques entrées en collision.

CONT

Ce schéma correspond à une zone de suture modèle de 60 km de largeur sous le talus continental et la partie extérieure de la plate-forme continentale et une zone de transition située entre la partie complètement verrouillée et la partie coulissante stable de la faille chevauchante qui s'étend jusque dans les environs de la côte ouest de l'île de Vancouver [...]

OBS

zone de suture : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2008-09-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Tectonics
  • Geomorphology and Geomorphogeny
DEF

A complex, connected series of several more or less parallel mountain ranges and mountain systems grouped together without regard to similarity of form, structure, and origin, but having a general longitudinal arrangement or well-defined trend.

CONT

... when two plates carrying continents collide, a mountain chain is created, as both plates are too buoyant for one to be subducted below the other.

CONT

e.g. the Mediterranean mountain chain of southern Europe.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tectonique
  • Géomorphologie et géomorphogénie
DEF

Système montagneux formé par plissement, disposé en long.

OBS

chaîne de montagnes : terme et définition normalisés par l'Office québécois de la langue française.

Spanish

Save record 4

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