Plate Tectonics

By Anna Benoliel

Divergent plate boundaries

How they work : When Two tectonic plates are moving away from each other.

Where they occur : mostly near ocean ridges

Coolest things :  Between the two plates is a rift valley. Scientists have found that lava on both sides of a rift valley are the same age.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLlthBfr8Bs

Convergent plate boundaries

How they works : A convergent boundary is where two  tectonic plates collide with each other causing huge earth movements.

Where they occur : mostly near convergent boundaries

Coolest things : forms mountain ranges

Strike slip or Transform Faults

How they work: it is when two tectonic plates slide past one another

Where they occur:  A transform fault may occur in the portion of a fracture zone

Coolest things: Transform faults are the only segments of fracture zones that are seismically active

 

Hot spots

How it works: plumes are areas of hot, upwelling mantle. A hot spot develops above the plume. Magma generated by the hot spot rises through the rigid plates of the lithosphere and produces active volcanoes at the Earth's surface. As oceanic volcanoes move away from the hot spot, they cool and subside, producing older islands, atolls, and seamounts. As continental volcanoes move away from the hot spot, they cool, subside, and become extinct.Where they occur: places within the mantle where rocks melt to generate magmaCoolest things: The Hawaiian hot spot has been active at least 70 million years, producing a volcanic chain that extends 3,750 miles

Cites

• "Science for Kids: Earthquakes and NCAR." Examiner.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.

• "Convergent Boundaries - Geology For Kids - By KidsGeo.com." Convergent Boundaries - Geology For Kids - By KidsGeo.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Dec. 2015.

• "Transform Fault | Geology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.

• "Volcano World." What Is a Hot Spot? N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Jan. 2016.