From Four
Geography
Plate Tectonics and the movement of plates.
The Earth's plates move in different directions. Plates behave differently at different plate
boundaries:
At a tensional, constructive, or divergent boundary the plates move apart.
At a compressional, destructive, or convergent boundary the plates move towards each other.
At a conservative or transform boundary the plates slide past each other.
Divergent plate margin:
At a divergent or tensional or constructive boundary the plates are moving apart. The plates
move apart due to convection currents inside the Earth.
As the plates move apart (very slowly), magma rises from the mantle. The magma erupts to the
surface of the Earth. This is also accompanied by earthquakes. When the magma reaches the
surface, it cools and solidifies to form a new crust of igneous rock. This process is repeated many
times, over a long period of time. Eventually the new rock builds up to form a volcano.
Constructive boundaries tend to be found under the sea, e.g., the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Here,
chains of underwater volcanoes have formed along the plate boundary.
Diagram 1.
Convergent plate margin:
At a convergent or compressional or destructive boundary the plates are moving towards each
other. This usually involves a continental plate and an oceanic plate.
The oceanic plate is denser than the continental plate so, as they move together, the oceanic plate
is forced underneath the continental plate. The point at which this happens is called the
subduction zone.
As the oceanic plate is forced below the continental plate it melts to form magma and
earthquakes are triggered. The magma collects to form a magma chamber. This magma then rises
up through cracks in the continental crust. As pressure builds up, a volcanic eruption may occur.
Diagram 2. A Zone of Subduction at a Convergent plate margin.
Collision zone occurs when two continental plates move towards each other. As the plates push
together, the continental crust is squashed together and forced upwards. This is called folding.
The process of folding creates Fold Mountains. Fold Mountains are formed where two
continental plates push towards each other. This is how mountain ranges such as the Himalayas
and the Alps were formed.
Fold Mountains occur near convergent or compressional plate boundaries. Examples of Fold
Mountains include the Alps, Rockies, Andes and Himalayas.
Diagram 3: A Collision Zone
Transform or Conservative boundary:
When plates move alongside each other in opposite directions or in the same direction but at
different speeds earthquakes are created.
The plate margins are made up of rock that is brittle and jagged, so it is difficult for the plates to
slide past each other. Sometimes the plates get stuck, and pressure builds and builds until
eventually they suddenly jerk forwards. This sudden movement and release of pressure is the
cause of earthquakes at this type of margin. The most famous conservative plate margin is the
San Andreas Fault on the western coast of North America.
Diagram 4: Transform plate margin.
Read the above information and answer the following questions:
1) Give another name for a divergent plate boundary.
Constructive or tensional plate boundary.
2) Name one feature formed when plates diverge.
Mid Atlantic Ridge, volcanoes, faults
3) At a convergent plate margin two plates move towards each other describing what
happens at a Zone of subduction.
At a Zone of Subduction, the plates move towards each other, the oceanic sinks beneath the
continental plate, this downward movement of the oceanic plate creates a subduction zone.
4) What is the main activity that can occur at a transform plate boundary?
The main activity at transform plate boundary are earthquakes.
5) What is a collision zone?
A collision zone occurs when two continental plates move towards each other, they collide, and
the earth’s crust is pushed upwards together to form folds or fold mountains.
6) Give examples of two-fold mountain ranges formed in the world.
Two-fold Mountain ranges are the Himalayas and the Alps.
https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=3ZpDjdFzQUM
Watch the video types of plate boundaries.
