These are the main scientific names of the different plate boundaries
These are the main scientific names of the different plate boundaries
CONSTRUCTIVE PLATE BOUNDARIES
EXAMPLE
Iceland on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Eurasian & North American plates moving apart.
EARTHQUAKES
Small to medium strength, up to 6.0 on the Richter scale.
VOLCANOES
Occur in fissures, not very dangerous or explosive. They erupt basalt lava at around 1,200 degrees celcius.
DESTRUCTIVE PLATE BOUNDARIES
EXAMPLE
Andes mountains in Peru and Chile. Nazca oceanic plate is subducted under the South American continental plate.
EARTHQUAKES
Very destructive, up to 9.5 magnitude. They are some of the most dangerous ever and Tsunamis (giant tidal waves) can form.
VOLCANOES
Very explosive and extremely dangerous. They form steep sided, cone shaped volcanoes. They erupt andesite lava at about 900 degrees celcius.
COLLISION PLATE BOUNDARIES
EXAMPLE
Himalayas. Formed as the Eurasian and Indian continental plates push into each other.
EARTHQUAKES
Destructive earthquakes up to magnitude 9.0 and can trigger landslides.
VOLCANOES
Volcanoes are very rare.
COLLISION PLATE BOUNDARIES
EXAMPLE
San Andreas Fault in California, USA. North American and Pacific plates sliding past each other.
EARTHQUAKES
Destructive earthquakes up to magnitude 8.5 and small tremors felt almost every day.
VOLCANOES
No volcanoes whatsoever.
CONVECTION CURRENTS
These are caused by radioactive decay of material in the mantle. The heat forces currents to rise, they cool as they near the crust and are pushed across before sinking. This creates the circular motion which is responsible for moving the tectonic plates.