My Science School

These are where the edges of tectonic plates meet. There are three main types – convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries. They differ in low the plates involved meet.

Convergent boundary:

Where two plates are colliding.

Subduction zones occur when one or both of the tectonic plates are composed of oceanic crust. The denser plate is subducted underneath the less dense plate. The plate being forced under is eventually melted and destroyed.

i. Where oceanic crust meets ocean crust

Island arcs and oceanic trenches occur when both of the plates are made of oceanic crust. Zones of active seafloor spreading can also occur behind the island arc, known as back-arc basins. These are often associated with submarine volcanoes.

ii. Where oceanic crust meets continental crust

The denser oceanic plate is subducted, often forming a mountain range on the continent. The Andes is an example of this type of collision.

iii. Where continental crust meets continental crust

Both continental crusts are too light to subduct so a continent-continent collision occurs, creating especially large mountain ranges. The most spectacular example of this is the Himalayas.

Transform boundary:

Where plates slide passed each other.

The relative motion of the plates is horizontal. They can occur underwater or on land, and crust is neither destroyed nor created.

Because of friction, the plates cannot simply glide past each other. Rather, stress builds up in both plates and when it exceeds the threshold of the rocks, the energy is released – causing earthquakes.

Divergent boundary:

Where two plates are moving apart.

The space created can also fill with new crustal material sourced from molten magma that forms below. Divergent boundaries can form within continents but will eventually open up and become ocean basins.

i. On land

Divergent boundaries within continents initially produce rifts, which produce rift valleys.

ii. Under the sea

The most active divergent plate boundaries are between oceanic plates and are often called mid-oceanic ridges.

Picture Credit : Google