Most large scale, high-energy events of geologic activity (e.g., earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building) occur as a result of relative motion along plate boundaries.
analyze how natural processes explain multiple aspects of Earth systems and their interactions (e.g., storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, climate, mountain chains and landforms, geological formations and stratigraphy, fossils) can be used to make predictions of future interactions and allow scientific explanations for what has happened in the past.
analyze how seismic waves provide evidence of the structure of the deep Earth including the inner and outer core in terms of composition, density, and viscosity.
Major features of convergent boundaries include collision zones (folded and thrust-faulted mountains) and subduction zones (volcanoes and trenches). Major features of divergent boundaries include mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, fissure volcanoes, and flood lavas. Major features of transform boundaries include strike-slip faults.
Earthquake activity of varying energy levels and depths is associated with all plate boundaries.
A fault is a break or crack in Earth’s crust along which movement has occurred.