Plate Boundaries of the Earth – Types, Examples, and Consequences

At convergent plate boundaries, two lithospheric plates move toward each other. One plate is forced under the other (subduction), or two continental plates collide.

Typical consequences are strong earthquakes and intense volcanism, as crust is melted and magma can rise.

 

The Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. This creates the Andes and numerous volcanoes. In subduction zones like the Pacific Ring of Fire, strong earthquakes and explosive volcanic eruptions are frequent.

Divergent plate boundaries arise when two plates move apart from each other. Magma rises from the mantle, filling the gap and forming new oceanic crust.

This often leads to elongated underwater mountain ranges and mild volcanism.

 

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the North American and Eurasian, or South American and African plates. Frequent light earthquakes and shield volcanoes occur here, such as on Iceland—which sits directly on this plate boundary.

At transform faults, two plates slide past each other sideways, without new crust being created or lost.

Huge tensions build up due to friction, which can be released suddenly.

 

The San Andreas Fault in California, where the Pacific and North American plates slide past each other. This results in very strong and destructive earthquakes. Volcanism hardly occurs here.