tectonic plates Flashcards
what is the main driver of plates moving?
convection
what is convection?
heating and cooling of the mantle
what is a plate boundary?
where two plates meet
what are the three types of plate boundaries?
convergent
divergent
transform
what are convergent boundaries?
when two plates come together in a head on collision
usually between an oceanic and a continental plate. one gets subducted under the other and pulled into the mantle and melted down forming a volcano
what are divergent boundaries?
two plates moving in opposite directions as the convection current drives the two plates apart
magma rises up from the mantle to form a new crust or depression between the plates
what are transform boundaries?
two plates sliding past each other causing friction leading to earthquakes
what is the two definitions for a depression one earth and in terms of the atmosphere?
earth - sunken landform
atmosphere - low pressure system brining clouds, rain, wind
