Plate Movement Flashcards
Divergent Boundary
Plates separate and new rock rises (constructive boundary) (e.g. Iceland).
Convergent Boundary
Plates Collide, can cause earthquakes and volcanoes (destructive boundary)
Transformative Boundary
Plates move past each other whilst pushing into each other, cause earthquakes.
Ocean-Ocean Convergent Boundary
Subduction due to speed, form deep sea trenches (e.g. Mariana Trench).
Ocean-Continental Convergent Boundary
Subduction due to oceanic plate density, form mountain ranges (e.g. Andes).
Continental-Continental Boundary
Collide and rise up, form mountain ranges (e.g. Himalayas).
Island Arcs
Formed when ocean-ocean plates converge, forming magma, which rises to create islands (e.g. Japan).
Hotspot Volcanoes
Occur in weakened spots in the crust and doesn’t lay near plate boundaries. If in the ocean, one will be active while one is dormant (e.g. Hawaii).
What are the two theories on plate movement?
-Convection currents caused by magma movement
-Gravity pulling dense ocean crust