Understanding Plate Movement: Divergent, Convergent, and Transform Types
This guide explores the three main types of plate movement that shape our planet's landscape. Divergent movement, or seafloor spreading, occurs where plates separate, such as at mid-ocean ridges. Convergent movement leads to plate collisions, forming mountains like the Himalayas when continental plates collide. Subduction, a specific type of convergent movement, occurs when an oceanic plate plunges beneath a continental plate, creating deep trenches like the Mariana Trench. Transform movement involves plates sliding past each other, exemplified by the San Andreas Fault.
Understanding Plate Movement: Divergent, Convergent, and Transform Types
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Plates on the Move Guide to plate movement
1. Divergent • Also known as seafloor spreading • Plates are separating from each other as a new land mass forms • This is seen at mid-ocean ridges and rifts • Plate separation is a slow process. For example, divergence along the Mid Atlantic ridge causes the Atlantic Ocean to widen at only about 2 centimeters per year. Picture from www.geology.com Author Hobart M. King
2. Convergent • Two continental plates collide. & crumple the edges of the plates & form mountains. • We can see the end result of the collision between the Indian & Eurasian plates which are the Himalayan Mountains. Picture from USGS Picture from www.geology.com Author Hobart M. King
Subduction • When an oceanic plate goes underneath or is subducted under a continental plate it is called subduction. • This forms a trench, or deep valley, where the plates meet. • An example of a subduction zone is the Marianas Trench where the Pacific Plate is subducting under the Eurasian Plate. • Subduction is another type of a convergent plate movement. Picture from www.geology.com Author Hobart M. King
3. Transform • Two plates slide past each other • Example: San Andreas Fault in California Picture from www.geology.com Author Hobart M. King
Transform Convergent Divergent
