SLO 1

CONVERGENT

Convergent boundaries are two plates moving towards each other. The heavier and more dense plate will move under the other plate, this is called subduction (pictured above). the dense plate that subducted under the other plate starts to melt and become less dense so it rises as magma and gases and shoots out of the crust in violent volcano fashion. Also as the denser plate is trying to move under the other plate, it gets stuck, as they aren't just going to smoothly slide past each other, remember these are gigantic heavy rocks! when they finally snap and move past each other the release of the energy stored up can result in massive earth quakes.

DIVERGENT

Divergent boundaries occur when two plate are pulling apart from each other, they are moving in opposite directions. As they pull apart, magma rises from the crust and spreads across the surface. This magma will solidify and then it will slowly pull apart and more magma will come up. This process of magma and gases coming out of earths core is essentially a volcanic eruption, however it is not always a huge eruption. Divergent boundaries can produce earthquakes, however they are not generally big quakes as these plates aren't getting stuck and then snapping apart. This process is often found at the seafloor and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a great example.

TRANSFORM

A transform boundary is where two plate are sliding past each other. Again, remember that these are huge rocks that wont smoothly slide past each other. These plates will get stuck trying to move past each other and they will store up energy and then finally when they give way and snap past each other, it will result in an earthquake.