Convergent (destructive) boundary Flashcards
At a convergent (destructive) plate boundary, the plates are
moving towards each other
What happens when Oceanic plate and continental plates meet:
The denser, heavier oceanic plate subducts under the lighter, less dense continental plate
What forms after the subduction
This forms deep ocean trenches in the subduction zone
Deep sea trenches are
long, narrow depressions in the ocean floor with depths of over 6km
trenches are found adjacent to(close or near)
to land areas and associated with island arcs
The boundary between the Nazca plate and the South American plate is an example
What tectonic hazards occur at this boundary
Both violent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur at this type of plate boundary
What is the Benioff zone
The narrow area where earthquakes tend to occur in the subduction is known as the Benioff Zone
Destructive plate boundary
When two oceanic plates meet:
The heavier of the two oceanic plates subduct, forming deep ocean trenches and island arcs
Island arcs are a series of volcanic islands, formed in an arc-shape, e.g. the Caribbean
Submarine volcanic eruptions, lead to crust building up and rising above sea level
Oceanic and continental convergent plate boundaries are also responsible for
fold mountains
characteristics of fold mountains
Fold mountains form the highest of the world’s mountain ranges
They are long, relatively narrow belts of mountains
The main fold range is made up of a series of smaller ranges