Plate Boundaries

• Convergent – 2 plates moving towards each other.SubductionOcean/Ocean SubductionContinent Convergent

• Divergent – 2 plates moving away from each other

• Transform Fault – 2 plates moving past each other

Convergent - Subduction• An oceanic plate moving towards a continental plate.

The oceanic plate goes under the continental plate because it is more dense. Volcanoes and earthquakes are formed.

• Examples: Juan De Fuca plate moving under the N. American Plate.Nazca plate moving under the South American Plate

Convergent – Ocean/Ocean Subduction

• When 2 oceanic plates move towards each other, one is forced under the other. A deep trench is formed and island arcs.

• Volcanoes and Earthquakes also occur.• Examples: Philippine Plate moving under Eurasian plate

created the Philippine Islands. Philippine and Pacific Plate moving under the Eurasian created Japan

Convergent – Continent Convergent

• 2 continental plates collide. • Mountains are formed. Earthquakes

occur.• Examples: Indian-Australian Plate

colliding with Eurasian Plate created the Himalayas.

Divergent• 2 plates moving away from each other. A rift valley or a

mid ocean ridge is formed. Lava comes out to fill the space in between.

• Examples: Mid Atlantic Ridge – N. American and Eurasian Plates moving away from each other. Iceland lies on the Mid Atlantic Ridge.Arabian and African Plate moving away from each other to create Great Rift Valley in Africa.

Transform Fault 2 plates moving past each other. Earthquakes occur.Examples: San Andreas Fault in California – Pacific plate

slides past N. American Plate.Also transform faults happen at mid ocean ridges.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCSJNBMOjJs&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active