The distribution of plate boundaries resulting from divergent, convergent and conservative plate movement. (oceanic, continental and combined situations)
(My bad description from looking at a diagram)
The majority of plate boundaries are divergent margins with transform boundaries, for example at the northern edge of the Antarctic plate and between the Pacific Plate, North American plate, Nazca plate and Cocos plate to the east of the American continents. However, there are convergent margins between the Pacific Plate, and the Eurasian, Fiji and Philippine plates, stretching across the Aleutian Islands, Japan and Malaysia. A continental collision zone can be found from the south of Europe to the north of Africa and the Middle East, where the African Plate meets the Eurasian plate.
(My bad description from looking at a diagram)
The majority of plate boundaries are divergent margins with transform boundaries, for example at the northern edge of the Antarctic plate and between the Pacific Plate, North American plate, Nazca plate and Cocos plate to the east of the American continents. However, there are convergent margins between the Pacific Plate, and the Eurasian, Fiji and Philippine plates, stretching across the Aleutian Islands, Japan and Malaysia. A continental collision zone can be found from the south of Europe to the north of Africa and the Middle East, where the African Plate meets the Eurasian plate.
Divergent
Divergent margins (constructive) are most clearly displayed at ocean ridges.
At these locations there are large numbers of shallow focus and generally low magnitude earthquake events. Most are submarine.
At these locations there are large numbers of shallow focus and generally low magnitude earthquake events. Most are submarine.
Convergent
These are actively deforming collisions with plate material melting in the mantle, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Conservative
Conservative (oblique-slip, sliding or transform) margins, where one plate slides against another. Here the relative movement is horizontal and classified as either sinistral (to the left) or dextral (to the right).
Lithosphere is neither created nor subducted, and while conservative plate margins do not result in volcanic activity, they are sites of extensive shallow focus earthquakes, occasionally of considerable magnitude.
Lithosphere is neither created nor subducted, and while conservative plate margins do not result in volcanic activity, they are sites of extensive shallow focus earthquakes, occasionally of considerable magnitude.
Probably Necessary
Plate boundary depends upon two factors:
- Motion - whether the plates are moving apart (divergent), colliding (convergent) or sliding past each other, (conservative or transform).
- Plate type: whether the tectonic plates are oceanic or continental. Oceanic plates make up the ocean floor and are high density, basaltic rock, but only 7-10 km thick. Continental plates make up the Earth's landmasses and are much thicker at 25-70 km but made of less dense, granitic rock.