Notes

Subduction is the process of one plate sliding under another. This can cause ocean floors to close, or get smaller, and even to get bigger, in some circumstances. Subduction happens when one plate slides under another while one is moving, pushing the less dense, thicker layer over the top and the other less dense and thinner one to get pushed down into the mantle, to be heated up and melted down, and then used to fill in new areas.

Transform Boundaries occur when two moving plates slide beside each other, causing no destruction or creation, but instead grinding against each other, causing earthquakes and, in some cases, tsunamis.

Convergent Boundaries occur when two moving plates slide into each other and causing the process known as Subduction. These boundaries can cause earthquakes and form smaller rift valleys where the denser plate was pushed down.

Divergent Boundaries occur when two moving plates slide away from each other. Divergent Boundaries do not cause many earthquakes, because the motion they take doesn’t make them collide with anything. The pulling apart can cause holes to form, rift valleys, sea-floor spreading, and sinkholes.