The Effects of Plate Boundaries

There are 3 Types of Plate Boundaries

DivergentConvergent:Ocean-OceanOcean-ContinentContinent-Continent

Transform

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Divergent plates cause SEA FLOOR SPREADING.

Over geologic time, divergent faults cause continents to move away from one another.

Start off as Rift Valleys, eventually become Mid-Ocean Rifts

Convergent Boundaries Convergent boundaries occur when two

plates collide. The lighter plate always goes over the

heavier plate. The heavier plate is SUBDUCTED Create VOLCANOES (on land and in sea),

and MOUNTAIN RANGES. THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF

CONVERGENT PLATES BOUNDARIES

Ocean-Continent Plate Boundaries

Occur when an oceanic and continental plate meet.

The ocean plate is heavier and slides under the continent.

Often results in volcanoes on land and mountain ranges

Continent-Continent Plate Boundaries

Occur when continental plates meet.

Both are heavy and neither can be pushed down into the Earth.

Can either smush together, or one can go on top of the other, resulting in very tall mountains.

Eventually, they come to a stop. Himalayan Mtns.

Ocean-Ocean Plate Boundaries

Occur when two oceanic plates meet. They are both heavy, and one sea floor slides over another.

A trench is formed, and often chains of islands result.

Hot Spots vs. Convergent Boundaries

Both hot spots and ocean-ocean convergent boundaries can create chains of islands.

However, convergent boundaries create islands when one plate is subducted another.

Hot spots are bubbles of magma that create islands as a plate moves above it.

Transform Plate Boundaries

Occur when two plates slide past each other.

Create Strike-slip faults, can create hills, but not mountains.

San Andreas Fault