Plate Boundaries
The Earth´s lithosphere is broken up into plates. These plates create different plate boundaries. The four different types of plate boundaries include divergent, convergent subducting,convergent colliding, and transforming.
Convection currents: Convection currents are formed by natural tendency of lighter liquids/solids to float and heavier liquids/solids to sink. As the solid material in the mantle melts the material in the mantle cools and sinks. This creates a circular cycle that acts upon the plates on the surface. This is what pushes plates to diverge, converge and transform. Also, Convection currents determine where plates diverge and where they converge.
Divergent plates: Divergent plates are formed by convection currents pushing plates away from one another. Magma then rises to the surfaces and cools to form new and hot land most commonly under the ocean. As these plates push away from one another they push the sea floor to cause sea floor spreading. An example of a divergent plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Convergent plates: There are 2 kinds of convergent boundaries. Subducting and Colliding.
Subducting Boundaries: Subducting plates are commonly found when Oceanic crust converges with Continental crust. This happens because the Oceanic plate is denser than the Continental plate and goes underneath. When the Oceanic plate subducts down to the mantle it melts and then rises. It pushes up against the Continental crust and causes the crust to rise. This commonly forms a volcano. An example of Subducting plate forming volcanoes are the volcanoes of Japan.
Colliding Boundaries: Colliding plates are commonly found when two Continental plates converge. The two plates push up against each other and since they are the same density one does not subduct under the other. Instead, they form a mountain range. One famous example is the Himalayan Mountains. This happened when the sub-continent of India converged with the Eurasian plate.
Transforming plates: Transforming plates occur when two plates slide past one another. Frictional forces stop these from moving constantly. Once these plates build up enough pressure, they overcome the frictional forces and release their energy. This is the most common way earthquakes occur. An example of transforming plates is the San Andreas fault.
Convection currents: Convection currents are formed by natural tendency of lighter liquids/solids to float and heavier liquids/solids to sink. As the solid material in the mantle melts the material in the mantle cools and sinks. This creates a circular cycle that acts upon the plates on the surface. This is what pushes plates to diverge, converge and transform. Also, Convection currents determine where plates diverge and where they converge.
Divergent plates: Divergent plates are formed by convection currents pushing plates away from one another. Magma then rises to the surfaces and cools to form new and hot land most commonly under the ocean. As these plates push away from one another they push the sea floor to cause sea floor spreading. An example of a divergent plate boundary is the Mid-Atlantic ridge.
Convergent plates: There are 2 kinds of convergent boundaries. Subducting and Colliding.
Subducting Boundaries: Subducting plates are commonly found when Oceanic crust converges with Continental crust. This happens because the Oceanic plate is denser than the Continental plate and goes underneath. When the Oceanic plate subducts down to the mantle it melts and then rises. It pushes up against the Continental crust and causes the crust to rise. This commonly forms a volcano. An example of Subducting plate forming volcanoes are the volcanoes of Japan.
Colliding Boundaries: Colliding plates are commonly found when two Continental plates converge. The two plates push up against each other and since they are the same density one does not subduct under the other. Instead, they form a mountain range. One famous example is the Himalayan Mountains. This happened when the sub-continent of India converged with the Eurasian plate.
Transforming plates: Transforming plates occur when two plates slide past one another. Frictional forces stop these from moving constantly. Once these plates build up enough pressure, they overcome the frictional forces and release their energy. This is the most common way earthquakes occur. An example of transforming plates is the San Andreas fault.