Tectonic Processes Flashcards
There are three types of boundaries that geologists observe.
Divergent boundaries
Convergent boundaries, and
Transform/Sliding boundaries.
As the giant plates move, whether they are diverging [pulling apart] converging [coming together] or sliding [transform]…
tremendous energies are unleashed resulting in tremors that change the Earth’s surface.
1.Divergent Boundaries
Divergence: When plates move apart
At divergent boundaries new crust is created as two or more plates pull away from each other.
2 types: oceanic and continental
Divergent boundaries happen when
two ocean plates move apart.
When the ocean plates move away from each other, they leave a crack in the ocean floor. Then…
Lava flows out of the crack and makes new land (rock).
When diverging boundary occurs on land,
a ‘rift’, or separation will arise
Over time that land will break apart into distinct land masses and the surrounding water will fill the space between them
Convergence:
When plates collide
There are 3 types of convergent boundaries:
1)Oceanic-Continental Convergence
2) Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence
3) Continental-Continental Convergence
- Oceanic-continental convergence:
When an ocean plate and a continental plate bang into each other,
the thinner plate (ocean plate) gets pushed under the thicker plate (continental plate)
This leaves a trench where the two plates meet
2) Oceanic-Oceanic
When two oceanic plates collide one is usually pushed under the other and in the process a deep oceanic trench is formed.
3) Continental-Continental
When two continental plates bang into each other, they get pushed up and make mountains.
Transform/ Sliding
Transform happens when
ocean plates or continental plates move beside each other.
When the ocean/continental plates try to slide past each other,
they sometimes get stuck. Pressure builds up and eventually they slide very quickly.
This can cause an earthquake. Earthquakes can cause lots of damage.
