ENV 4521 Lecture Notes - Lecture 22: Divergent Boundary, Convergent Boundary, Transform Fault
28 Jun 2019
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Document Summary
Because plates are relatively cold and rigid, they are also deformed significantly only at the edges and only where one plate interacts with another. Most of the action with plate tectonics takes place where? plate boundaries. Three types of plate boundaries are possible divergent boundary convergent boundary transform boundary. What is a divergent boundary? two plates that may diverge from one another. What happens at a divergent boundary? magma from the asthenosphere wells up in the opening between the plates. This upward flow of molten material produces a line of volcanic vents that spill out basaltic lava onto the ocean floor, with the plutonic rock gabbro solidifying deeper below. A divergent boundary is usually represented by a midocean ridge. Where else can divergent boundaries occur? within a continent. When this happens you get a continental rift valley. So how are midocean ridges and continental rift valleys related? both are forms of divergent boundaries.
