Tectonic Activities Among Plate Boundaries
Science
PLATE BOUNDARIES
Plate boundaries are the location where two plates meet.
Plate boundaries are commonly associated with
geological events such as earthquakes and the creation
of topographic features such as mountains, volcanoes,
mid-ocean ridges, and oceanic trenches.
Lithosphere – the solid, uppermost, outer part of Earth
Asthenosphere – the mechanically weak and ductile
region of the upper mantle of Earth. It lies below the
lithosphere.
Mantle plume – small rising column of hot plastic mantle
rock
TYPES
1. Divergent – two plates that are moving apart, causing
the plates to separate.
- earthquakes with shallow focus (0-70km
deep) and magnitude of less than 7 occur in these
regions.
Involves: mid-ocean ridge, rift valley, volcanoes,
earthquakes
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First Sem
2. Convergent – two tectonic plates move toward and
colliding each other.
– deep focus earthquake (300-700km
deep.) stronger and cover more space. 8+ magnitude.
subduction – sinking process when there is a
difference in density. Subduction zone is a long
narrow belt where a plate sinks into the mantle.
 Oceanic-Continental Plate (Destructive)
o mountain ranges, volcanoes
 Continental-Continental Plate (Collision Plate
Boundaries) – less dense, no subduction.
o mountain ranges, Himalayas
 Oceanic-Oceanic Plates
o trenches, underwater volcanoes
involves: trenches, mountain ranges, volcanoes,
earthquakes
3. Transform (Conservative/Slip) – plates pass each other
- earthquakes with shallow focus. up to 8 magnitude.
example: San Andreas Fault
4. Intraplate Activity – occurs in the middle/within the
plate