Podcast
Questions and Answers
What type of plate boundary is demonstrated when two pieces of candy slide past each other?
What type of plate boundary is demonstrated when two pieces of candy slide past each other?
What geological structure is likely to form when applying compression force to two candy pieces?
What geological structure is likely to form when applying compression force to two candy pieces?
What occurs at a divergent plate boundary, as demonstrated by pulling the candy pieces apart?
What occurs at a divergent plate boundary, as demonstrated by pulling the candy pieces apart?
Which layer of the Earth is primarily involved in plate tectonics?
Which layer of the Earth is primarily involved in plate tectonics?
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What type of plate boundary is associated with subduction zones?
What type of plate boundary is associated with subduction zones?
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What is the primary process occurring at divergent boundaries?
What is the primary process occurring at divergent boundaries?
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What geographical feature is an example of a divergent boundary?
What geographical feature is an example of a divergent boundary?
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How fast does the Mid-Atlantic Ridge spread on average?
How fast does the Mid-Atlantic Ridge spread on average?
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What is the geological process called when large pieces of the Earth's crust sink and molten rock is forced up?
What is the geological process called when large pieces of the Earth's crust sink and molten rock is forced up?
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What type of plate interaction occurs when one plate is pushed down beneath another plate?
What type of plate interaction occurs when one plate is pushed down beneath another plate?
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Which oceanic feature is associated with convergent boundaries?
Which oceanic feature is associated with convergent boundaries?
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Which mountains are formed as a result of the collision between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate?
Which mountains are formed as a result of the collision between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate?
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What natural feature is being formed and expanding due to the divergent boundary in the Red Sea?
What natural feature is being formed and expanding due to the divergent boundary in the Red Sea?
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What is formed when two oceanic plates collide?
What is formed when two oceanic plates collide?
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What geological feature is likely created from a continent-continent collision?
What geological feature is likely created from a continent-continent collision?
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How high can the Himalayas reach above sea level?
How high can the Himalayas reach above sea level?
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What primarily occurs at transform boundaries?
What primarily occurs at transform boundaries?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of the San Andreas Fault?
Which of the following is a characteristic of the San Andreas Fault?
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What geological process can cause earthquakes at divergent boundaries?
What geological process can cause earthquakes at divergent boundaries?
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What key feature do island arcs have in relation to oceanic plate collisions?
What key feature do island arcs have in relation to oceanic plate collisions?
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What is a common geological outcome of divergent plate boundaries on land?
What is a common geological outcome of divergent plate boundaries on land?
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Study Notes
Divergent Boundaries
- Divergent boundaries occur along spreading centers
- Plates move apart
- New crust is created by magma pushing up from the mantle
- Like two conveyor belts moving in opposite directions
- Newly formed crust moves away from the ridge crest
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
- The rate of spreading along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge averages 2.5 centimeters per year or 25 km in a million years
- Seafloor spreading over the past 100-200 million years has caused the Atlantic Ocean to grow from a tiny inlet of water to the vast ocean that exists today
Iceland
- An example of a divergent boundary is Iceland
- The island is being pulled apart
- This results in lava fountains, like the Krafla Volcano
African Rift Valley
- A 6,000-mile crack in the earth's crust, stretching from Lebanon to Mozambique
- Known as the African Rift Valley
- The force of the plates pulling apart causes huge chunks of crust to sink and molten rock to erupt in volcanic eruptions
- Volcanic activity is ongoing along the rift
- Numerous hot springs are present
The Red Sea
- The Red Sea (east coast of Africa) is spreading apart
- The land on either side is pulling away, and the Red Sea gets bigger each year
Convergent Boundaries
- Convergent boundaries exist where one plate is subducted underneath another plate
- Subduction occurs where one plate sinks underneath another plate
Ocean-Continent Collision
- Underneath the ocean water, there are a number of long, narrow, curving trenches
- Trenches are thousands of kilometers long and 8–10 km deep
- They cut into the ocean floor and are a result of subduction
- Trenches are the deepest parts of the ocean floor
Ocean-Continent Collision (South America)
- The Nazca plate is pushing into the South American plate and being subducted
- This causes the uplift of the South American plate, creating the Andes Mountains
- Strong, destructive earthquakes are common in this region.
Ocean-Ocean Collision
- When two oceanic plates collide, one plate sinks beneath the other
- This results in the formation of volcanoes
- Erupted lava and volcanic debris pile up on the ocean floor
- A volcano rises above sea level to form an island volcano
- Island volcanoes are typically in chains called island arcs
Continent-Continent Collision
- When two continental plates collide, neither is subducted
- This happens because the continental rocks are relatively light
- As the plates impact, the crust buckles and is pushed upward and sideways
- This forms mountains, such as the Himalayas, that are exceptionally high mountains
Himalayan Mountains
- The Himalayas were formed when the Indian and Eurasian plates collided 50 million years ago
- This collision caused the Eurasian plate to crumple up and override the Indian Plate
- The continuous convergence of the two plates over millions of years pushed up the Himalayas, and the Tibetan Plateau to their present heights
- The Himalayas are the highest continental mountains, reaching 8,854m above sea level
Transform Boundaries
- Most transform boundaries are found on the ocean floor
- A few occur on land, like the San Andreas fault in California
- Transform boundaries exist as a result of two plates sliding past each other
The San Andreas Fault
- Stretches about 1,300 km long and tens of kilometers wide
- Slices through two-thirds of California
- The Pacific Plate has been grinding horizontally past the North American Plate for 10 million years, at an average rate of about 5 cm/yr
- Land on the west side of the fault (on the Pacific Plate) is moving in a northwesterly direction compared to the land on the east side of the fault zone
Plate Boundaries and Earthquakes
- All types of plate boundaries can result in earthquakes
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of divergent boundaries, where tectonic plates move apart to create new crust. This quiz covers key examples such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the African Rift Valley, detailing how these geological processes shape our planet. Dive into the dynamics of seafloor spreading and volcanic activity with this engaging quiz.
