Diverging Boundaries
Ocean Ridges
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Diverging Boundaries is the name we give to describe the tectonic plates that are moving apart from each other. When these plates separate, a rift is formed. Magma rises up into this rift and solidifies, creating new crust. We call the ridges found in the ocean floor Mid-Ocean Ridges. An example of diving boundaries is is the Indo-Australian plate and the African Plate (as seen in the map below) |
Converging Boundaries
Continental to Continental
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When two continental plates collide, they are both pushed upwards. This happens because they are of the same density. When the plates are pushed upwards, they create mountain systems. Some of the greatest mountain ranges on earth have been created this way. For example the Himalayas have been formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. (as seen in the map below) |
Oceanic to Oceanic
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When two oceanic plates collide, the faster moving one goes under the other, this is because it is more dense. As the plate sinks, into the asthenosphere, it starts to melt. The magma created by the melting plate slowly travels towards the surface. This creates a chain of volcanoes called an Island Arc. An example is the South Caribbean Plate and the South American Plate. (as seen in the map below) |
Oceanic to Continental
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When ocean and continental crust collide, the ocean crust goes under the continental crust. The plate starts to melt once it reaches the asthenosphere, and molten lava starts to rise towards the surface. This creates volcanoes. An underwater trench is also formed in the process of the tectonic plate sinking. For example the Nazaca Plate and the North American plate. (as seen in the map below) |
Transform
Large Faults
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A transform boundary is when two tectonic plates slide in opposite directions. When this happens, there is an earthquake at that spot. This can happen with oceanic plates and continental plates. For example the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate (as seen in the map below) |
Where does this happen around the world?
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