![]() ![]() Typically, a convergent plate boundary-such as the one between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate-forms towering mountain ranges, like the Himalaya, as Earth’s crust is crumpled and pushed upward. Each of these types of plate boundaries is associated with different geological features. For example, sections of Earth’s crust can come together and collide (a “convergent” plate boundary), spread apart (a “divergent” plate boundary), or slide past one another (a “transform” plate boundary). There are many different types of plate boundaries. Volcanoes are also often found near plate boundaries because molten rock from deep within Earth-called magma-can travel upward at these intersections between plates. When Earth’s tectonic plates grind past one another, enormous amounts of energy can be released in the form of earthquakes. ![]() Plate boundaries are important because they are often associated with earthquakes and volcanoes. That is because its outer surface is composed of about 20 tectonic plates, enormous sections of Earth’s crust that roughly fit together and meet at places called plate boundaries. The San Andreas Fault is one of the best examples of lateral plate motion.In some ways, Earth resembles a giant jigsaw puzzle. When two tectonic plates slide past each other, the place where they meet is a transform or lateral fault. This can lead to the formation of huge, high mountain ranges such as the Himalayas. Since neither plate is stronger than the other, they crumple and are pushed up. ![]() About 80% of earthquakes occur where plates are pushed together, called convergent boundaries.Īnother form of convergent boundary is a collision where two continental plates meet head-on. Sometimes the molten rock rises to the surface, through the continent, forming a line of volcanoes. The rocks pulled down under the continent begin to melt. Subduction causes deep ocean trenches to form, such as the one along the west coast of South America. When a continental plate meets an oceanic plate, the thinner, denser, and more flexible oceanic plate sinks beneath the thicker, more rigid continental plate. The Great Rift Valley in Africa, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden all formed as a result of divergent plate motion.Ĭonvergent (Colliding): This occurs when plates move towards each other and collide. The earthquakes that occur along these zones, called spreading centers, are relatively small. Molten rock from the mantle erupts along the opening, forming new crust. The three main types of plate movements include:ĭivergent (Spreading):This is where two plates move away from each other. The movements of the plates help shape the geological features of our planet. Other plates include continents, and some plates include both continents and ocean. Some of the plates have ocean water above them. When the plates finally give and slip due to the increased pressure, energy is released as seismic waves, causing the ground to shake. Most seismic activity occurs at three types of plate boundaries-divergent, convergent, and transform.Īs the plates move past each other, they sometimes get caught and pressure builds up. Movement in narrow zones along plate boundaries causes most earthquakes. ![]()
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