MECHANISMS OF PLATE MOVEMENTS Flashcards
These either push tectonic plates toward one another or pull them apart.(push and pull)
DRIVING FORCES
These act against the driving forces of plate tectonics.(friction)
RESISTING FORCES
TYPES OF DRIVING FORCE
MANTLE CONVECTION, SLAB PULL, SLAB SUCTION and RIDGE PUSH
_________- is caused by the rising heat from the core toward the mantle. Convection currents drive the plates away from one another.
MANTLE/THERMAL CONVECTION
It occurs when a subducting slab sinks into the mantle because of a difference in temperature.
SLAB PULL
It occurs when the lithosphere is pushed up by the asthenosphere because of convection currents from the mantle.
RIDGE PUSH
Happens between two colliding plates, one subducting underneath the other, whereby convection currents in the upper mantle suck both plates down.
SLAB/TRENCH SUCTION
TYPES OF RESISTING FORCE
SLAB RESISTANCE, COLLISIONAL RESISTANCE, TRANSFORM FAULT RESISTANCE DRAG FORCE
It is the force that resists all forces associated with plate movement in subduction zones.
SLAB RESISTANCE
It occurs when a heavy plate is pulled into the mantle but resists subduction because of friction.
This force opposes the slab pull
COLLISIONAL RESISTANCE
It is the frictional force due to the opposing movement of plates moving past one another between two spreading centers.
TRANSFORM FAULT RESISTANCE
Resist movement of lithospheric plates
DRAG FORCE
